STATE level conventions on the issues of working class, dalits and on urban issues were held in Andhra Pradesh on July 13, 14 and 15. With the joint efforts of CPI(M) and CPI to bring forth a ‘political alternative’ in AP, these conventions were the first three in the series. Both the parties have decided to conduct state level conventions of different classes and social sections on their respective issues and to mobilise people towards a ‘political alternative’ that differs from TDP, YSRCP, BJP and the Congress. A massive rally ‘Maha Garjana’ is slated on September 15, and prior to that there will be bus yatras covering all the districts of the state. A convention of working class was held at the industrial city of Visakhapatnam and that of dalits was conducted at Raja Mahendravaram. On urban issues, another convention was held in Vijayawada.

The convention of working class, ‘Karmika Garjana’ was chaired by Ch Narasingarao, CITU state president and Adinarayana rao, state vice president of AITUC. The state secretary of CPI(M),  P Madhu and his counterpart of CPI, K Ramakrishna jointly inaugurated the convention through beating of drums. They said that neither the TDP nor the YSRCP can find solution to the problems of working class as their policies are one and the same. They urged the progressive forces and other sections to come along with Left parties, which have pro-worker polices and who have been fighting for them all along. MA Gafoor, state general secretary of CITU proposed the main resolution and Obulesu, AITUC state general secretary seconded it. The resolution proposed to educate the workers all over the state in a phased manner and to mobilise them around the ‘political alternative’. Apart from other leaders of CPI(M) and CPI, Murty of Lok Satta and others spoke in support of the resolution and welcomed the initiative of the communists. The venue, AU Convocation Hall was overcrowded with workers and employees and their representatives from various districts and sectors.

The state convention on dalit issues was presided over by D Subbarao, state secretariat member of CPI(M) and CPI state secretariat member Jalli Wilson. V Srinivasa Rao, Central Committee member of CPI(M) exposed the Modi government in diluting the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, dismantling the planning commission, and the attacks on dalits and minorities by the ‘gau rakshaks’ (cow vigilantes). Ramakrishna, CPI state secretary said that the TDP and YSRCP are controlled by two families and social justice cannot be expected from them. Former MP, GV Harsha Kumar, Balasingam of VCK party (from Chennai), Jana Sena party leader Siva Sankar, RPI leader B Anjaiah, Sunnam Rajaiah, CPI(M) MLA and A Malyadri, KVPS state secretary and others spoke and underlined that social justice can be attained only through a ‘political alternative’. The convention decided to take the ‘Raja Mahendravaram declaration’ to the people and to rally them around the ‘political alternative’. Four booklets on Modi’s four years rule, published by Prajasakti were also released.

The convention on urban issues was presided over by Y Venkateswara Rao, CPI(M) state secretariat member and D Sankar, CPI city secretary. A resolution was moved by Ch Baburao, CPI(M) state secretariat member and was supported by J Ajay Kumar, CPI district secretary. The resolution demanded housing, potable drinking water, public health, public transport for all and a protective environment and safe law and order situation in urban local bodies. V Srinivasa Rao and CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna gave a call to take up people’s agenda and to rally them for a ‘political alternative’. Partha Saradhi, Jana Sena state leader, Vazeer of Lok Satta, Pothia Ramarao of Aam Admi Party, Eswara Rao from CPI(M) Liberation, Visakha Apartment Dwellers Association leader Ganesh, Tax Payers Association leader Anjaneyulu and others participated in the convention.