THRISSUR, the cultural capital of Kerala is all-set to host the state conference of the CPI(M). The delegate session will be attended by 566 delegates (475 elected delegates, 87 state committee members, 4 state committee invitees) and 16 observers representing the Party units across all 14 districts. 31,700 branch conferences, 2,093 local committee conferences, 206 area conferences and 14 district conferences had been held according to schedule.  Apart from Party general secretary Sitaram Yechury who will inaugurate the conference on February 22, the state conference will be attended by Polit Bureau members Prakash Karat, S Ramachandran Pillai, Pinarayi Vijayan, Brinda Karat, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan,  AK Padmanabhan and MA Baby. Ahead of the inauguration of the delegate session on February 22, veteran leader VS Achuthanandan will hoist the flag at the conference venue which is named after late VV Dakshinamoorthy. The reception committee chairman Baby John will hoist the flag at the public meeting venue on February 21. The torch light rallies from the memorials of 577 martyrs will arrive at the conference venue the same day. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will light the lamp at the venue.

The procession carrying the flag to be hoisted at the venue has started from Kayyur martyrs memorial. State secretariat member MV Govindan is leading the procession. The flag post procession starting from Vayalar is led by Anathalavattom Anandan, state secretariat member. Likewise the torch light procession from Parassala (Trivandrum) and Paiveligai (Kasargod) has started under the leadership of state committee members V Sivankutty and TV Rajesh respectively. A huge rally will be held in Thrissur on the concluding day of the conference. Around 25,000 red shirt volunteers will take part in the march-past and two lakh people are expected to attend the meeting.

Preparations for the CPI(M) state conference have been going on, in a festive mood. Thrissur city has become a red sea. Red flags, bill boards, posters, temporary-built campaign houses etc give a picture of a red city in the true sense. Expenses for the conference are met in two different ways: one is through bucket collection and another is through a novel idea of putting a small earthen pot in each and every Party member and sympathiser’s house in Thrissur district. Earthen pots were placed in 42,000 houses across 2,239 branches. After two days, the money was collected by local leaders. In connection with the state conference, various programmes were held in Thrissur city and other parts of the district. 21 seminars, three exhibitions including yoga, chess  and athletic completions, cultural festivals like vadyotsavam and kalasandhya were held. Special gatherings of youth, student, peasants and agricultural workers, women’s etc also attracted huge crowds. A total of 11 such gatherings were held. Even CPI(M) Polit Bureau and Central Committee members participated in these seminars and gatherings. Thousands of people also got involved in all these activities enthusiastically. Veteran communist leader and first communist chief minister of the state Comrade EMS’ memory was also rekindled. At the EMS Square in the city, the cycle used by him, his shirt and foot wear etc are put on display.

In connection with the ensuing 22nd Party Congress, another unique programme is organised in the adjacent district of Eranakulam. Under the leadership of CPI(M), 30 houses are being built and there is a plan to handover the same to the needy people.  The key giving function of the first fully constructed two- floor house was held in Chittethukara on February 21. First house warming function was inaugurated by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member S Ramachandran Pillai. Suma, a mother of two girls, got the first house constructed by the CPI(M) Kalamassery area committee.

In all respects, the city of Thrissur is ready to host the state conference of CPI(M). The last state conference was held in Alappuzha in 2015. The conference would review the achievements of the Party during the last three years and also focus on the developmental plans of the government since it came to power almost two years ago.