Q. As per the Party Programme what are the major contradictions at the present stage of the revolution and which is the main contradiction?

Chandan Biswas, Burdwan, West Bengal

Ans. The three main contradictions that exist in Indian society are:

1. the contradiction between landlordism and the mass of the peasantry;
2. the contradiction between imperialism and the Indian people; and
3. the contradiction between the working class and the bourgeoisie.

It is because of these three main contradictions that the CPI(M) programme talks of the anti-imperialist, anti-landlord and anti-monopoly tasks of the people’s democratic revolution.

The programme maintains that the contradiction between big landlordism and the mass of the peasantry is the principal contradiction, which in political terms expresses itself as the contradiction between the big bourgeoisie-landlord State and the vast mass of the people.

It is the big bourgeoisie which is leading the State and pursuing the policies of compromise and collaboration with foreign finance capital and alliance with landlordism.

Q. The Party Constitution in Article 15 and 16 has stated that the general secretary, state secretary and district secretaries can be elected to their post for three terms only.

Does this principle apply to the mass organisations like the CITU, kisan and other federations? What is the stand of the Party in this regard? Please clarify.

Hazrilal Sharma, Sikar, Rajasthan

Ans. The CPI(M) constitution specifies a limit of three terms for secretaries at all levels – from the general secretary of the Central Committee to secretaries of local committees. This was introduced in the constitution at the 20th Congress of the Party held in Kozhikode in April 2012.

Such a term limitation is applicable only for the Party post. The mass organisations like trade unions, kisan sabha, youth, student and women’s organisations are governed by their own constitution and rules. They are independent organisations and have their own structures of leadership and rules to elect them.

The CPI(M) cannot be deciding this matter for them. For instance, the All India Democratic Women’s Association has had a three term rule for its president and general secretary at all levels even before the Party decided to have such a term limit.