Bihar State conference of CPI(M)

Arun Kumar Mishra

THE 24th CPI(M) State Conference of Bihar, held from December 22-24, 2024 in Darbhanga, resolved to strengthen the Party's independent mass base by intensifying class and mass struggles. It also emphasized the need to forge a Left, democratic, and secular alliance to counter the ideological onslaught of the RSS and BJP, which are bent on destroying the legacy of the Independence movement, the Constitution, the federal structure, and the diversity of the country.

The conference began with a large mass meeting at Polo Maidan, attended by thousands of peasants, workers, and a significant number of rural women in their traditional attire, carrying red flags. The roads leading to Polo Maidan were adorned with red flags, banners, posters, and photographs of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, and the late Comrade Sitaram Yechury, whose passing on September 12 left the entire Party in shock and disbelief.

The meeting was addressed by CPI(M) Polit Bureau members A Vijayaraghavan, Ashok Dhawale, and Central Committee member and MP, Amra Ram. Other speakers included Central Committee members A R Sindhu, Awadhesh Kumar, Party state secretary Lalan Chowdhary, and Party secretariat member and MLA, Ajay Kumar. Darbhanga district secretary Avinash Kumar Thakur also addressed the gathering, while Shyam Bharti presided over the meeting.

The speakers described the BJP-led central government as pro-corporate, anti-people, and being hand-in-glove with American imperialism. They termed it a threat to national unity, out to impose hegemonic Hindutva ideology and Brahminical culture based on the Manusmriti. They also criticised the ‘One Nation, One Election’ law and called it a direct assault on India’s federal structure. They condemned Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s derogatory remarks about Dr Ambedkar, noting the BJP's contempt for the man who fought for the annihilation of caste.

State leaders highlighted Bihar's pivotal role in facilitating the emergence of the ‘INDIA Bloc’ at the national level. They spoke about various struggles launched by the Party independently and in collaboration with Left and secular democratic forces.

All the speakers called on the people to strengthen the Party and the mass organisations to confront the RSS and BJP ideologically, politically, and electorally. They urged the assembled gathering, and the people of Bihar at large, to take up the fight with red flags in their hands, forging an unbreakable unity between workers and peasants. This unity was exemplified by the historic one-year-long farmers' struggle in and around Delhi, which forced the so-called strongest prime minister to withdraw the three draconian agricultural laws.

The unity of workers, peasants, and the Left, secular, and democratic forces has already punctured the BJP's high-voltage campaign to cross 400 seats in the Lok Sabha. The BJP’s tally was reduced to 240, and the current government is now dependent on its allies, JD(U) and TDP. However, the threat to Indian democracy, the Constitution, the federal structure, and cultural diversity persists, as witnessed during the recent parliamentary session.

Party flag was hoisted by A Vijayaraghavan which was followed by paying tributes to the martyrs' column. The inaugural session commenced at 4:30 pm in a well-decorated auditorium nearby. A five-member presidium, comprising Sarvodaya Sharma, Ahmad Ali, PN Rao, Rajendra Singh, and Rampari, conducted the proceedings. A five-member credentials committee was also formed, with Manoj Gupta as the convenor.

A Vijayaraghavan inaugurated the conference. In his address, he provided an in-depth analysis of the international and national situation, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen the Party's independent base by unleashing class and mass struggles at the unit, district, and state levels. He pointed out the organisational shortcomings within the Party and highlighted the importance of adhering to the principles of democratic centralism. He also stressed the necessity of enhancing the ideological consciousness of every Party member.

Vijayaraghavan particularly underscored that every Party member is an activist of a mass organisation and must take active responsibility in Party activities. While congratulating the Party for raising significant issues, especially those related to the suffering and exploitation of Bihar's masses, such as land-related concerns, he pointed out to the lack of organisational and ideological consolidation, which he described as an urgent priority.

Following the inaugural session, Party state secretary Lalan Chowdhary presented the political-organisational report on behalf of the state committee. The report elaborated on the political situation in Bihar, the role played by different political formations in society, and the tasks ahead for the Party.

The report highlighted alarming data on agriculture, health, education, and nutrition, underscoring the dismal state of affairs in Bihar. It called for comprehensive movements to bring attention to the plight of the common people. The report underlined the need for launching class and mass movements to strengthen the Party's independent mass base while forging alliances with Left, democratic, and secular forces to defeat the RSS-BJP's sinister attempts to seize power in Bihar by any means.

The report also reflected on the various movements initiated, sacrifices made, and advances achieved over the past three years. However, it pointed out significant weaknesses, such as the failure to consolidate the gains of these movements into organisational strength, the lack of ideological training for new recruits, and the absence of a cadre and wage policy for full-time workers.

The report further noted obstacles to forging Left unity, including the ‘big-brotherly’ attitude of CPI(ML) and the apathy of bourgeois secular parties in confronting RSS-BJP ideologies at the grassroots level. Additionally, it discussed the new social contradictions emerging between neo-feudal elements and marginalised groups, including the most backward sections and dalits. The NDA has effectively exploited these contradictions, as reflected in the electoral behaviour of these sections.

The report also highlights the so-called development trajectory pursued by the Nitish-led JD(U)-BJP government in Bihar, which has led to the grim realities of the state. On all social and human development parameters, Bihar remains at the bottom of the development index. Devoid of any significant industrial base, it continues to serve as a supplier of cheap labour to other parts of the country and abroad.

Placing the report, Lalan Chowdhary expressed hope that the 24th State Conference would galvanise the Party into action, marking a turning point to shape the political future of Bihar. He emphasized the urgent need to overcome the challenges in consolidating the masses, which require immediate attention. It was noted with concern that very few comrades regularly read the Party's mouthpieces and other publications. Delegates were invited to share their experiences and perspectives on the report presented.

Out of 345 delegates, 60 actively participated in the discussions, expressing their views on the political and organisational aspects of the report. The delegates conveyed confidence in tackling present-day challenges by launching comprehensive movements and building a strong and leading Left party in Bihar. Constructive criticisms of the leadership were made and received positively.

Following the reply by the Party state secretary to the discussions, the report was unanimously adopted.

The conference elected a 50-member state committee, which then unanimously elected Lalan Chowdhary as secretary for the next term. Sarvodaya Sharma and Arun Kumar Mishra, both of whom are 73 years old, were relieved from the state committee but were incorporated as special invitees.

Ashok Dhawale, addressing the concluding session of the conference, emphasized the untapped potential of the Bihar party, which has the capacity to emerge as a formidable political force. He noted the Party's significant struggles, particularly on land-related issues, and lauded its many achievements. The long list of martyrs reflects the determination, spirit, and revolutionary zeal of comrades across various districts, who have kept the red flag flying high throughout Bihar. Dhawale underscored the need to consolidate the gains of mass movements into organisational strength. He cautioned against the looming fascist threat posed by the RSS-BJP regime and called for the development of the broadest possible platform of Left, democratic, and secular forces to fight this threat. He expressed hope that the next three years would propel the Party to become a major force in Bihar's political landscape.

Amra Ram and A R Sindhu also addressed the delegates, urging them to implement the tasks ahead with revolutionary zeal.

The conference concluded with the singing of The Internationale.

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