CPI(M) Polit Bureau member, Nilotpal Basu,  has written to the chief election commissioner, Election Commission of India on April 16, regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Sabarimala temple, in his election rallies, aiming at communal polarisation. Referring to an instance of flagrant violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, Basu pointed out that the atmosphere is being vitiated in the election campaign by importing polarising issues.

As the polling date draws close, state of political affairs in Kerala explicitly shows that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has an edge over the UDF and BJP in all 20 parliamentary constituencies, including Wayanad where Congress president Rahul Gandhi is contesting. Kerala votes on April 23.The untimely and unusual decision of Rahul Gandhi to contest from Wayanad seems to be counter-productive for the Congress, as the BJP is harping on the presence of Muslim League’s green flag in his public meetings in Wayanad.

A PEACEFUL demonstration against the Rowlatt Act at Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919, turned into a site of massacre by the British government, killing more than thousands of protestors including women and children.

CPI(M) had organised a protest dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on April 16 against the failure of Election Commission of India (ECI) in ensuring free and fair elections in Tripura. The polling for the West Tripura Lok Sabha seat saw large scale violence and rigging by the BJP. Election officials and observers and central forces were not seen in the booths that were “captured”.

WITH two phases over, campaign by the leaders, workers and supporters of CPI(M) is at its peak in West Bengal. The scorching sun and sweltering heat has not been able to act as a dampener to the combative spirit of the comrades. Every nook and cranny of every constituency is being visited by Left activists who have laid more stress on door-to door campaign and people-to-people contact.