THE 21st state  conference of the  CPI(M) was held on January 24-25 at  Modasa (of  newly  created Arvalli district). It began with the hoisting of Party flag by Gujarat’s senior most leader, Subodh Mehta. The conference began with a rally in the morning of January 24. The rally  started  from  market   yard and terminated  in  huge  public  meeting  at  Modasa  Char Rasta. The public meeting was presided over by Subodh Mehta. The reception committee chairman Katabhai Raval greeted the people on the dais with flowers. Pragajibhai Bhambhi delivered the welcome speech. The meeting was conducted by Dahyabhai Yadav, secretary of the new Arvalli district committee.

Subodh Mehta, attacked the neo- liberal policy measures of the Gujarat and the central government.  He said  since  13 years, the   BJP  government in Gujarat has  served Ambani, Adani and Dani monopolies only! The BJP has almost given them a free run.  Poor  people, working  class,   employees,   and kisans  are the worst sufferers under this regime.

  CPI(M) Polit Bureau  member Brinda Karat addressing  the meet, said that Prime Minister  Narendra modi projects Gujarat model before  whole nation as ideal, but  Gujarat on the contrary, so far as it  concerns  malnutrition,   education,  employment,  working  class wages,  minimum  wages,  workers  rights, employees’  interests  is in a very  bad  plight. She further said that the central government is out to destroy the Food Security Act and the MGNREGA.  It has not  bothered  to implement the promises made during the Lok Sabha  elections .

State secretary Arun Mehta in his address said that Gujarat became a real laboratory for communal forces like the RSS and the VHP. The BJP government in the state works in the interests of the big corporate houses.

The delegate session began with the election of presidium which consisted  of five members  namely  Subodh  Mehta,  Kuberbhai  Bhambhi, Batukbhai Makvana, Singjibhai Katara and Romila bahen. The steering committee consisted  of  Arun Mehta,  Pragajibhai  Bhambhi and Ramchandran.

Sukomal Sen, Central Committee member of the Party and Gujarat in-charge inaugurated the delegate session. He gave a call to strengthen the Party. He also dealt with international  developments  as well as national political developments. He especially insisted on  resisting the attacks on  workers  and kisans.

Arun Mehta placed the political organisational report. 33 delegates participated in the  discussion on the report. After the secretary’s reply,  and the incorporation of few  suggestions, the report was unanimously adopted.

The conference then elected a 30-member  state  executive  committee and 8-member  secretariat  with Pragajibhai  Bhambhi, as the new state secretary. The conference also elected six delegates and two observers for the Party  Congress. The conference  also  passed ten resolutions on issues facing the people of Gujarat.  

Brinda Karat gave the concluding  speech  exhorting the delegates to strengthen the Party in Gujarat.