CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury visited Jharkhand on January 12,  2019 and met RJD Leader Lalu Prasad Yadav at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi. After meeting him, Sitaram addressed a press conference at the state Party office in Ranchi. Yechury told the media that the CPI(M) would try to consolidate anti-BJP votes to establish an alternative secular government both at the centre and in Jharkhand.

IN a huge response, about 20 lakh workers in Telangana, both from organised and unorganised sectors, directly participated in the all India general strike on January 8 and 9, as per the call given by 10 central trade unions and National Federations. Employees of the Telangana state government, railways, defense and teachers participated in the rallies and dharnas protesting the anti-working class and anti-people policies adopted by the BJP-led central government.

THE Supreme Court has, on January 22, 2019, dismissed the special leave petition filed by the union government against the Allahabad High Court order that had struck down the college/university wise reservation roster. The Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), in a statement issued on January 22, has said that this has exposed the government’s opportunistic and insincere attitude towards reservation policy meant for the underprivileged sections of the society.

EVER since the idea of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was mooted in 2016, it was evident that there will be strong reactions in Assam. Right from the introduction of the bill in Lok Sabha on July 19, 2016, movement started in Assam, particularly in the Brahmaputra valley, demanding immediate withdrawal of it. All the political parties and mass organizations except BJP expressed their clear opposition to the bill. Politically BJP was completely isolated on the question of the bill where even its coalition partner AGP had out rightly rejected the BJP’s position on the bill.

IN another show of defiance, thousands of people joined a two day march in one of the worst terrorised areas of West Bengal. With TMC coming to power in 2011, the entire stretch of Arambagh-Tarakeswar-Goghat in Hooghly district, has turned into terror zone. The area in Hooghly-Bankura border witnessed series of attacks on Left activists and supporters. Almost all CPI(M) and Left parties offices were forcibly closed. Many such offices were seized by the ruling party. Hundreds of houses were attacked and a large number of Left cadres and supporters were forced to leave their living places.