LATEST in a series of large mobilisations by CPI(M) , a massive rally was held in Chandipur, East Midnapore on November 18. Thousands of people from all over the district gathered with red flags in Chandipur, close to Nandigram. The rally was culmination of intensive campaign on peoples’ issues. Party leaders and activists visited more than 200 village panchayats and more than 100 municipal wards and talked with people. In door to door campaign they exchanged views and listened to peoples’ grievances against TMC rule. East Midnapore is one of the most terrorised areas, ruled by TMC gangs. Numerous attacks against CPI(M) activists, hundreds of false cases slapped against Left supporters, eviction from land and house took place in last eight years. Attacks have expanded over people and their livelihood. There was perceptible anger against the state’s ruling party among the people. In addition to this, in the month long campaign, people expressed apprehension about economic slowdown, the brunt of which has been felt in this district too. Migrant workers were forced to come back after loss of jobs from different states.
In the rally, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Manik Sarkar attacked both the governments and said, to choose BJP to oust TMC is like jumping from frying pan into the fire. The people of West Bengal are experiencing worst kind of attack on democracy for the last eight years. TMC has looted one election after another. In Tripura, BJP is a replica of them. They are targeting Left and initiating merciless inhuman attack on poor people. The people of Tripura have begun to resist within a short span of time.
Sarkar said, Modi has come to power using ultra nationalist jingoistic sentiments. But already their invincibility has been challenged. They have suffered in Maharashtra, Haryana elections, conceded defeat in bye elections. Workers in many sectors have built up resistance. Bigger movement is on the anvil on January 8, 2020. The Left victory in JNU and Presidency University has sent a message to the whole country.
CPI(M) state committee member Deblina Hembram said, the Left are the only alternative for the people. They fight for peoples’ rights and would never bow down before authoritarian forces.
The rally was presided over by CPI(M) district secretary Niranjan Sihi who asserted that the red flag will fight back every kind of terror.
The rally felicitated Arun Das, 92, freedom fighter and a veteran communist who still participates in Party’s struggles.
SFI Wins Presidency University
IN the first students union elections in two and half years in the state SFI gained remarkable victory in Presidency University. The election was held on November 14. In 2017, the West Bengal government had taken the decision to replace the students’ unions in all colleges and universities with apolitical students’ councils. The students’ union elections were stopped in all state government-run universities and colleges. After consistent fight from students’ community the first election was allowed in Presidency.
SFI bagged all five posts of president, vice-president, general secretary, additional secretary and secretary of girls’ common room. SFI candidates defeated their nearest rival Independent Consolidation (IC), with huge margins in this closely watched election. They have also won 58 out of the 115 seats for class representatives.
SFI campaign was based on larger issues of the country. They questioned economic policies of Modi government, their attempt to polarise people on communal line, attack on rationality. SFI asserted that this is no time for being ‘apolitical’; this is time for commitment to fight back for secular democratic values.
Souren Mallik of SFI bagged the post of general secretary with 840 votes, while the IC candidate received 574 votes. Mimosa Ghorai, who contested the election for the post of president, won with a margin of 472 votes. Ankita, the vice-presidential candidate, won with a margin of 359 votes. Deeprajit Debnath, the SFI candidate fighting for the post of additional secretary won by 277 votes; Shruti Roy Muhuri won the post of secretary of the girls’ common room by 104 votes.
Mayukh Biswas, all India general secretary of SFI, said, “This is a win for the student community. We have to utilise whatever democratic options we have available to fight dictatorial politics. The win has come as the result of the never-say-die attitude in fighting for the issues faced by the students. The progressive students of Presidency University are with SFI. Universities and colleges across the country are witnessing the victory of progressive students’ organisations, and West Bengal is no exception.”
Srijan Bhattacharya, the West Bengal state secretary of SFI said, “The students have rejected the designs of Trinamool Congress and BJP. It has been proved that whenever elections are conducted democratically, the progressive forces always win. This victory will be followed by more victories.”
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Surjya Kanta Mishra congratulated SFI for the massive victory in the university after nine years. He tweeted: "Congratulations for the impressive victory of SFI in the Presidency University Student's Union election. Wish sincerest efforts to consolidate the unity of all Left Students organisations shall continue to be the foremost agenda as ever."
This victory was celebrated with an exuberant procession on the next day in College Street.
