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. The conference stage was named after Comrade Sitaram Yechury, and the venue was named after Comrade Buddhadeb Bhattacharya.

Inaugurating the 27th State Conference, Prakash Karat warned about the rising neo-fascism in India, orchestrated by the RSS and enabled by Narendra Modi. He criticised the Modi government's Hindutva agenda, neoliberal policies, and favouritism towards capitalists, drawing parallels with Trumpism. Karat highlighted the global trend of neo-fascism and the urgent need to counter it. He also discussed the crisis of neoliberalism, the rise of Leftist governments in some countries, and the challenges posed by right-wing Islamic fundamentalists in Bangladesh. Karat emphasized the importance of uniting secular forces and strengthening the CPI(M) to combat the BJP-RSS's communal ideology. He commended the Left's role in West Bengal's political landscape and called for greater inclusion of the marginalised and youth into the Party. The conference commenced with Karat's opening address and the presentation of the draft political and organisational report by CPI(M) state secretary, Mohammad Salim.

CONFRONTING CHALLENGES

Mohammed Salim stated that Trinamool and the Hindu supremacist neo-fascist trend are two sides of the same coin. The goal is to forge a grand alliance against Hindu supremacist neo-fascism in the state, as Trinamool Congress cannot be part of that broader unity.

Mohammed Salim pointed out that the panchayat elections in Jadavpur were fiercely contested, resulting in several casualties. Participation in the nomination process and prevention of vote-rigging required substantial effort. During the elections, a sense of vengeance was observed among the poor, who belong to the working class. The Trinamool-BJP binary was somewhat broken, and we made some progress. Ahead of the panchayat elections, farm labourers, the poor, workers, trade unions, and krishak sabha workers marched from village to village. People came out in terror-stricken areas. Before the Lok Sabha elections, we talked about organising the working class. We have to move forward by stepping up the class movements and strengthening the class organisations.

Salim highlighted numerous issues faced by farmers in the state, including the prices of jute, paddy, and potatoes, as well as the lack of fair compensation for their crops. He also pointed out the lack of work for agricultural labourers and the migration of workers to other areas due to unemployment. This has resulted in increased hardship for women in working-class families and a rise in school dropouts in the state. Salim emphasized the need to connect with and understand the concerns of the people. He stressed that the Party should not only react to incidents but also proactively identify and address issues.

Salim also criticised the RSS and Trinamool for their activities and emphasized the need to strengthen the Party's movements and reach out to people directly. He stressed the importance of class organisation and mobilisation to bring about change. Salim called for transparency regarding foreign funding and cautioned against the influence of right-wing propaganda. He advocated for a united front against imperialism, corporate-Hindutva forces, and the Trinamool, while emphasizing the need to strengthen the Party's own capabilities to build a broader alliance against the Trinamool and BJP in West Bengal. He concluded by stating that communists focus on learning from the past to shape their future path.

ADDRESSING GRASSROOTS CONCERNS

The delegate session highlighted the grim picture of West Bardhaman district's labour-intensive industries and the current socio-economic situation. Small and retail vendors faced declining incomes, and continuous protests against privatisation persisted. The 'Catch the Thief, Fill the Jail' programme gained popularity and impacted panchayat election results. Communal forces attempted to create divisions, but door-to-door campaigns and Party workers' enthusiasm countered these efforts.

The CPI(M) shifted its focus based on villagers' concerns and incorporated their demands into its platform. In Paschim Medinipur, the Party adopted a strategy of organising movements around local issues, leading to successful protests. The RSS's attempts to create divisions were countered by the CPI(M)'s focus on local demands.

The struggle to change the balance of class forces faced obstacles from communal forces. In Purulia, the CPI(M) focused on building movements around various local demands. In Hooghly, there were experiences of organising movements for wage increases and struggles by jute mill workers.

Despite facing challenges, the Party's resolve remained unwavering. A woman delegate from Kalimpong expressed the Party's commitment to rebuilding, and in Uttar Dinajpur, Party workers continued to organise movements on local issues despite facing violence.

The delegate sessions discussed the issue of migrant workers in West Bengal. A CPI(M) survey in Malda has revealed widespread labour migration due to unemployment, not political violence. Even educated youth migrate to states like Kerala for better wages and less discrimination.  The lack of 100-day work schemes and pervasive agricultural crisis force migration from almost every district. This has led to social problems like family separation, increased crime, and the rise of a wealthy class who control village votes. The conference addressed the issue of land grabbing and the need to protect migrant workers, passing a resolution for their safety, livelihood, and dignity.

 The   third day saw discussions on the draft political- organisational report, which highlighted the joint movement and struggles of various fronts. Delegates from student, youth, women, slum, refugee, cooperative and social justice fronts shared their experiences and spoke about the joint struggle.

The youth front delegate highlighted the dire employment situation and the lack of opportunities for youth. He criticised the Sangh-BJP and stressed the importance of promoting an alternative culture among the youth. The delegate of the student front highlighted the shift in the thinking and mindset of the current generation and cautioned against the National Education Policy. The delegate of the women's front highlighted the significant influence of the Sangh's religious propaganda on women's minds and condemned the increasing violence against women since the Trinamool Congress came to power.

SPECIAL SESSION AND ACTION PLAN 

The state conference witnessed a special session to determine the future course of action for the first time in 91 years, since its inception in 1934. Following the session, a 'Proposal for Future Work' for the next three years was presented, which was finalised after receiving feedback from the delegates.

Prior to the proposal, CPI(M) state secretary, Mohammad Salim addressed the special session and highlighted the current state of affairs, covering various aspects from both micro and macro levels through a power-point presentation. Salim emphasized that the effort was not solely for electoral gains, but rather to ascertain the social and economic conditions of the people as well as their opinions and expectations of the Party. This information was gathered through surveys and will serve as the basis for shaping the Party's future endeavors. Salim presented an overview of the current situation in the state and a six-phase action plan was formulated to guide Party workers' efforts. The action plan included training programmes and emphasized reaching out to people in times of need. The overall goal of the action plan is to rebuild trust with the people and position the Party as a viable alternative.

Sridip Bhattacharya, Party Central Committee member presented a draft programme outlining 20 key tasks for the Party's next three years. Salim supported the draft and urged focus on these tasks to strengthen the Party and protect Bengal.

The adopted programme emphasizes developing the Party's independent strength, consolidating the Left Front, and expanding Left unity. It acknowledges positive signs in current movements and aims to shift the political balance by focusing on ideology, politics, struggle, and organisation.

The programme also outlines areas for Party improvement, including enhancing the political and ideological quality of Party workers, building strong branches, including more women and young people, and raising funds. The 2026 assembly elections are considered crucial for shifting the political balance in the state.

WAY FORWARD

Addressing the state conference, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Surya Mishra emphasized the need for unity and strategic action to face the upcoming challenges. Mishra acknowledged the current period as a time of great change and stressed the importance of self-confidence. He highlighted the BJP as a major threat and called for a harmonious approach to the struggle, prioritising immediate achievable demands while remaining committed to fundamental goals. He emphasized the importance of grassroots-level understanding and connecting with people to identify immediate demands.

Organisations of workers, peasants, agricultural workers, and slum dwellers have called for a Brigade rally on April 20. In the past, a joint programme of this nature has not been organised jointly by class organisations.

Surya Mishra informed the representatives that, “Just holding a Brigade rally won't be enough. Even if the Brigade is filled, if there's no activity in the neighbourhoods, villages, and slums, it won't be successful. It is necessary to build a Brigade of struggle in one's own area. To achieve this, the fight for immediate demands must be intensified from now on. If we can achieve those demands through struggle before April 20, then we will fill the Brigade with the red flags flying high and the victory flag in hand.”

The draft political-organisational was discussed over the three days by 77 people, including 10 women. Among them were 50 representatives from the districts. The conference spent 660 minutes discussing the draft report and adopted 31 resolutions, including one on the future course of action, which was adopted on February 25. Replying to the discussions, Salim emphasized the need to reach out to people beyond the Party's usual sphere.

A new 80-member state committee was unanimously elected. The newly elected state committee held its first meeting on February 25, chaired by Surya Mishra, Polit Bureau member. Mohammad Salim was re-elected as state secretary at the first meeting of the state committee, which has 11 new members, including 14 women.