THE 23rd Odisha State Conference of the CPI(M) was held from December 16-18, 2024, at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, with the clarion call to build a strong CPI(M), strengthen Left unity, and unite Left and democratic parties/forces to counter the onslaught of the communal-corporate nexus and save the Constitution.

On the first day of the conference, thousands of people from diverse sections of society –workers, peasants, agricultural workers, women, youth, students, tribals, and dalits – gathered from across the state, and marched in a rally covering 5 kilometres which culminated at Barabati Killa Maidan in a public meeting. Janardan Pati, the senior-most leader of the Party and chairman of the Reception Committee, presided over the meeting. The public meeting was preceded by the hoisting of the Red Flag by Janardan Pati and the garlanding of the Martyrs’ Column by Suryakanta Mishra, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, along with other leaders.

Amra Ram, CPI(M) Central Committee member, MP and a prominent kisan leader, addressed the gathering as the chief speaker. He highlighted the historic farmers’ movement, which forced the Modi government to repeal the three black anti-farmer laws. He noted that the movement, during which over 700 farmers sacrificed their lives, exposed the pro-corporate and anti-people policies of the Modi regime. This movement, along with other significant struggles by working people, had a major impact on the 2024 General Election, reducing the BJP’s strength in the Lok Sabha to 240 seats 32 short of a majority, despite Modi’s "Ab Ki Baar 400 Paar" campaign. He warned the people about the divisive and communal politics of the RSS-controlled BJP, designed to undermine the unity of the people and threaten democracy and the Constitution. He urged workers, peasants, and agricultural workers to build a strong movement focusing on livelihood issues, resisting divisive politics, demanding a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural products, and addressing the soaring prices of essential commodities.

Suryakanta Mishra explained the grave danger posed by the RSS/BJP government led by Modi to the unity and integrity of the country. He emphasized that the BJP is not only communal but also anti-tribal, anti-dalit, pro-imperialist, and committed to serving corporate interests. He pointed out that the communal BJP has a history of extinguishing its regional allies, and the BJD in Odisha will face a similar fate. He criticised the BJD for being primarily responsible for facilitating BJP's rise in Odisha. Mishra thanked the people of the Bonai constituency for electing the CPI(M) candidate to the state Assembly for a record fourth time. He urged the Party to strengthen itself by taking up local demands while remaining connected with the people's causes, alongside addressing national issues.

Odisha Party state secretary, Ali Kishor Patnaik remarked that the people of Odisha are already witnessing chaos and non-performance under the BJP government, which, for the first time, has come to power with a single majority in the state. In just seven months of BJP rule, there has been an acute rise in the prices of essential commodities, increasing unemployment, and a spike in migrant workers. Patnaik highlighted the tragic deaths of three tribal women in the tribal-dominated Kandhamal district, who were forced to consume mango kernels due to hunger. Two other women are still battling for their lives. This situation arose because, in the name of verifying PDS cards, the BJP government stopped ration distribution for three months without providing any alternatives, forcing people to rely on mango kernel gruel to survive. He urged the people to unite and resist the communal frenzy and anti-people policies of the RSS-BJP.

Other speakers at the open session included state secretariat member,  Pushpa Dash, Reception Committee secretary, Badri Narayan Dash, and Laxman Munda, MLA.

The conference venue was named Sitaram Yechury Nagar and the dais was named Shivaji Patnaik Manch.

Suryakanta Mishra inaugurated the delegates session, calling for strengthening the Party to ideologically confront the RSS/BJP and to fight against BJP's fascistic, communal, and anti-people policies. Representatives from three Left parties – CPI, CPI-ML (Liberation), and AIFB – also addressed the conference, extending their greetings.

Ali Kishor Patnaik placed the political-organizational work report for discussion. The report outlined the pressing issues faced by the people of Odisha and proposed a detailed plan of action for the next three years aimed at strengthening the Party in the state.

Addressing the conference, Party Polit Bureau member, Nilotpal Basu stated that the RSS/BJP, currently in power both at the centre and in Odisha, poses a grave threat to the country. He highlighted the BJP's misuse of central agencies such as the ED, CBI, and Income Tax department to suppress dissent and opposition voices, describing its actions as authoritarian and fascistic. The BJP, he said, is attempting to rewrite history, alter the education system and its curriculum, and undermine scientific temper. He also condemned its efforts to divide dalits and tribals through social engineering and its misuse of social media to spread misinformation and communal hatred.

Sixty-one delegates representing various districts, class and mass fronts, as well as tribal, dalit, and social platforms, participated in the discussion on the political-organisational report. After the state secretary’s reply to the discussions, the report was adopted unanimously.

Sixteen resolutions were adopted during the conference, covering a wide range of issues, including the Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people, opposition to ‘One Nation, One Election,’ price rise, unemployment, worker-peasant unity, the demand for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural products, the abolition of the four labour codes, the need for a caste census, tribal issues, movements of workers and employees in the state, agricultural and agrarian issues, and the National Education Policy.

The Credentials Report mentioned that out of the 166 elected delegates and 22 observers, 164 delegates and 19 observers attended the proceedings.

The conference elected a 30-member state committee, with Suresh Chandra Panigrahy elected as the state secretary. Janardan Pati and Jagannath Mishra, who got relieved from the state committee, were invited as special invitees to the newly formed committee. Basanta Majhi was elected as the editor of the Party organ, Samyabadee.

In his concluding remarks, Suryakanta Mishra emphasized the importance of democratic centralism in the Party organisation, with inner-party democracy as its core, a principle lacking in other political parties. He stressed the need to strengthen the Party by focusing on four cardinal aspects: ideology, politics, struggle, and organisation.