THE CPI(M) released final set of its booklets for election campaign on March 28. Out of the total 11 booklets prepared by the Party, four were released – two each on March 24 and March 26 and remaining seven booklets were released by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member A K Padmanabhan and Central Committee member, Sudha Sundararaman. The seven booklets of the final set are: For An Alternative Food Security and Price Control Policy To Advance Workers' Rights To Protect and Defend Agriculture, Farmers and Workers Against the Caste System: For Equity and Dignity of Dalits In Defence of Women's Rights For the Defence of Adivasi Rights Health for All Now On this occasion, pinpointing the trend of individuals and personality based campaign, A K Padmanabhan said that the policy issues concerned with the livelihoods of the people should be at the centre of the campaign. He said, while the CPI(M) is raising issues and campaigning for an alternative, some of the major parties are yet to release their election manifestoes, even while the first phase of polling is on April 7 – only a week away from now. But editorials are being written on proposed manifesto, he said signalling toward the BJP. Explaining the issues Padmanabhan said that CPI(M) struggles for food security and against price rise are well known. On this major issue, our position has been clear that instead of targeted PDS, there should be universal coverage and a roll back of fuel price hike. Underlining the need for land reforms and subsidies, he said that the CPI(M) has been consistently demanding for these to protect agriculture and farmers. He said that under MNREGA, 100 days work was mandated but in practice only 30 days work was given. He further said that when Karnataka High Court orders to pay statutory minimum wages to workers, the government shamelessly went in for an appeal against the order. In such a scenario, the CPI(M) is demanding 200 days of work under the NREGA. Explaining the issues concerning working classes, he said that apart from the issues of minimum wage, labour laws, benefits etc., contractualisation has become the worst form of workers' exploitation. Even in Gurgaon, a bustling modern industrial town in the NCR region, the ratio of permanent and contract workers is 1:9, which is really alarming and shameful at the same time. The situation in PSUs is no different, he said. On the issue of scheme workers he said that the promise made in the Congress manifesto regarding ICDS etc, should be seen in the light of the existing reality wherein more than a crore scheme workers are yet to be given the status of workers.  Sudha Sudararaman said that as social sector is handed over to the private players, the people are suffering. Raising the issues of adivasis and dalits, she said that indicators of development in BJP ruled states are worse and Modi's views on manual scavenging shows the real feudal mindset of RSS and BJP. She said that CPI(M)'s movement against untouchability in Tamilnadu resulted in razing down of untouchability walls. She also said that CPI(M) is demanding for a 'Right to Health Act' as public health is being starved of funds. Raising the issue of 33% reservation for women, she said that Congress and BJP have betrayed the cause.