Thiruvananthapuram: As it concluded its 45th state conference Friday, the Communist Party of India (CPI) pledged to strengthen its organisation and bring the Left Democratic Front government back to power for a third term in Kerala though delegates also raised concerns over certain policies of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government and the allegations of custodial torture against the Kerala police.
The three day conference held in Alappuzha also re-elected Binoy Viswam as its state secretary. Viswam had assumed charge in December 2023, following the death of Kanam Rajendran.
The CPI, the largest ally of the CPI(M) in Kerala, also passed several resolutions during the conference, against the Centre’s treatment of the state, another demanding the abolition of the Governor’s post, yet another against the Centre’s plan on deep sea mining across the Indian coastline, and another against the Central government’s support for Israel amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Sathyan Mokeri, a senior CPI leader, told ThePrint that the conference also discussed in detail issues faced by Kerala’s farmers and other working classes, and the overall development of the state.
Addressing the gathering at a public meeting Friday evening, CPI general secretary D. Raja said the communist party has been consistently questioning the policies of the BJP government and that the Left should come back to power in Kerala in the upcoming polls.
“The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its political arm, the BJP, are trying to change Indian nationhood. The RSS-BJP wants to make India a theocratic nation. We should not allow them to succeed,” he said adding that the LDF is the hope for a better future.
Viswam also emphasised that the party will strive for the reelection of the LDF government in the upcoming polls. The local body elections are expected to be held in Kerala by the year-end closely followed by the Assembly polls before May next year. The Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the CPI(M) is eyeing a hat trick, while the opposition is banking on the anti-incumbency sentiment.
“As the RSS casts a shadow across the nation, people find their only ray of hope in Kerala. It should not die. It should lead the state and CPI knows that. We will strive for that,” he said. The leader said the party is not just heaping praise on the CPI(M)-led government, but will also criticise it whenever necessary in order to strengthen the Left front.
R. Ajayan, a delegate of the conference and the editor of CPI organ Navayugam, told ThePrint the criticism raised by delegates in the conference was a reflection of public sentiment on various issues.
“The conference reflects the ground reality of public sentiment. It doesn’t mean that CPI is anti-LDF or anti-CPI(M). There are current controversies going on against the state police department, and that is simply reflected in the discussions at the conference,” Ajayan said, adding the CPI has identified election preparation as its primary task. He said the CPI is hopeful the LDF will return to power.
Mokeri added the party’s mass organisations and workers unions would be strengthened and more people would be brought in to build up the party. Leaders also pointed that the party has inducted many youngsters into leadership positions as well as in its mass organisations in order to appeal to the state’s youth.
Resolutions passed
The party said the fisheries sector provided jobs to lakhs, ensures food security, and is vital to Kerala’s economy, but the Centre’s project of deep see mining would open the shores to private players.
As per the amendments to the 2002 Offshore Minerals Act, the Centre had auctioned three sand blocks off the Kollam coast along with three blocks in Gujarat and seven in the Nicobar Islands. The CPI passed a resolution against the deep sea mining plan, and demanded a ban on big vessels in the sea, a special package for the sector in view of the impact of US tariffs, and a revision of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
The party also passed a resolution demanding the abolition of the post of Governor. CPI has long reiterated that the Governor’s post is unnecessary and undemocratic, and undermines the federal system. The resolution noted that Kerala’s former Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and current Governor Rajendra Arlekar have been accused of pushing the RSS agenda in Raj Bhavan and in universities. The party also criticised the UDF for its silence on the matter and called for the immediate abolition of the post, saying it obstructs governance.
Another key resolution was against the Central government’s neglect of opposition-ruled states, including Kerala. The CPI alleged that the Centre was undermining fiscal federalism by reducing the states’ share of central taxes.
“CPI is a party that has always maintained that the Governor’s post is not needed. Governments are democratically elected, but Governors, sitting above them with a nominated position, undermine this system. The Kerala Governor is currently turning Raj Bhavan into an RSS headquarter. It is the party’s stand, and now we have passed a resolution to highlight it before people,” Mokeri said.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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