IT rained all through the day and night on March 1, pouring down and flooding the streets.  Not only in Delhi but in almost all parts of the country.But nothing could deter the determined ASHA workers from making their way to Delhi. They came from 13 states of India – from far off Tripura, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, Bihar, and nearer J&K, Gujarat, Maharashtra,  UP, Punjab Haryana,  and Delhi.

THE PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu & Kashmir headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has finally assumed office. This was preceded by two months of intense negotiations between the two parties. While Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is the chief minister, Nirmal Singh of the BJP has become the deputy chief minister. This is the first time that the BJP has become part of the state government in Jammu & Kashmir. This has disturbing implications.

COMRADE S K Vyas, veteran leader of the Central Government Employees and Pensioners, is no more. He passed away on February 13, 2015 at Jaipur Metro Hospital, where he was admitted after a massive heart attack a few days back. When I, along with leaders of the central government employee’s organisations, Giriraj Singh, Vrighu Bhattacharya, Gita Bhattacharya and AK Mehta went to Jaipur on February 7 instant and visited Comrade Vyas at the hospital ICU, he seemed better. The family members told that Vyasji was recovering. But by the night of 13th, Com Vyas was no more.

THE 21st conference of CPI(M) Kerala state committee was held in Alappuzha, the land of historic Punnapra Vayalar struggle. The four-day conference began on February 20 with veteran Communist and opposition leader in the Kerala legislative assemby V S Achuthanandarn  hoisting the Party flag in Krishnapillai Nagar (S K Convention Centre, Kalarkode) in the presence of all-India leaders, delegates, Red volunteers and thousands of other people.

THE 14th Haryana state conference of the CPI(M) held from February 14-16 concluded with a clarion call to launch a decisive movement to end miseries of toiling masses and to strengthen the Party as a major  political force in the state. Newly elected state secretary Surender Singh Malik asked the rank and file of the Party to go to the people at grass root level and organise them against economic exploitation and social oppression. “Our struggle should focus on concrete solutions to the burning problems of rural and urban poor, youth, students, women, dalits and minorities,” he said.