THE 27th West Bengal State Conference of CPI(M) was held from February 22- 25, at Dankuni in Hooghly district. The conference began with CPI(M) veteran leader Biman Basu hoisting the Party's flag, followed by Prakash Karat, Polit Bureau member and coordinator of the Central Committee, and other leaders paying homage at the martyr's column. Polit Bureau members Manik Sarkar, Brinda Karat, Surya Mishra, M A Baby, Tapan Sen, Ashok Dhawale, Nilotpal Basu, and Ramchandra Dom were also present.

As decided by the Central Committee in its meeting held on January 17-19, 2025, the Polit Bureau has issued a Note on the use of the term `Neo-Fascism’ to be reported along with the Draft Political Resolution.  Since some incorrect interpretations of the note have appeared in the media, the text of the note is being published below.

THE verdict of the trial court in the RG Kar case has raised many questions about the role of the Kolkata Police, the state administration and the CBI. Although Sanjay Roy, one contractual policeman, was found guilty of the main crime of murder and rape and sentenced to life imprisonment, numerous loopholes in the CBI investigation are mentioned in the verdict. If Sanjay Roy is held to be the sole culprit, many questions remain unresolved.

THE capitals of the world seem to be sounding different. Apparently, there has been a shift from ‘methodological individualism’ to ‘methodological nationalism’. It is now less about free market and competition and more about protecting political and economic boundaries. Those both on the right and neo-left who were not able to see the State in the mystified neoclassical imagery of market are taken aback by the entry of Trump coming loud and clear talking about tariffs, illegal immigrants, jobs of their own workers and industrial policy.

UNDER late capitalism, there is an assault on the working people that is reminiscent of early capitalism and this assault is worldwide, not just in the third world but in the advanced capitalist countries as well. This assault is at three levels, economic, political and ideological.The assault at the economic level has been much talked about, and is the outcome of both higher inflation and greatly enhanced unemployment that currently afflict the capitalist world.