"MODI Government, while talking of Vikasit Bharat, is blocking all opportunities for the growth of people. As part of its assault on people’s rights, REGA act has been changed with many amendments. MNREGA name has been changed to VB G RAM G. But this is not just a change in name, but in content also. The changes made have not been to better it. But MNREGA, which was helping rural workers to an extent, has been effectively buried" declared U Vasuki, CPI(M) Politburo member while speaking at a well-attended rally at Bangalore. Vasuki was addressing the "People's Voice for Alternative Politics" rally at Freedom Park on December 21 at Bangalore, organised by the CPI(M) Karnataka State Committee. State Secretary K Prakash, Secretariat members, and State Committee members were on the dais.  Secretariat member U Basavaraj presided over the meeting.

The people of Karnataka rejected the BJP in the last assembly elections because of its disastrous anti-people policies, rampant corruption and total incompetence. The Congress was elected to govern due to its Five Guarantees promising welfarism and promise to halt anti-people policies. Though the Five Guarantees have been mostly implemented despite some shortcomings, most anti-people policies have been continued. In fact, the Congress has pursued neo-liberal policies even more vigorously.  Corruption continues unabated. Factional fighting in ruling Congress party over who will become Chief Minister and ministers has frustrated people. Instead of raising people’s  issues, the major opposition parties – BJP and JD(S) – are busy raising communal and other divisive issues to divert people’s attention. With the anti-people character of the three major political parties in the state – BJP, Congress, and JD(S) – increasingly exposed, large sections of the people are seeking a credible political force with an alternative politics.

Responding to this, the CPI(M) Karnataka launched a statewide campaign that foregrounds people's issues and advances an alternative political vision for Karnataka. The political campaign included a door-to-door campaign by over a thousand batches of party workers all over the state, distribution of leaflets and booklets on alternative policies and a signature campaign in support of that. They were able to reach about 5 lakh houses. Over 15000 people attended the rally.  This is the biggest rally organised by and in the name of the party in recent years. The rally was a culmination of the political campaign conducted by the party for over six weeks. The rally has generated tremendous enthusiasm and hope among party members and working people alike. Unlike on earlier occasions, the rally along with the vigorous propaganda by the party social media, did result in wide coverage in mainstream dailies, TV and independent web and YouTube channels. The impact of the rally was such that State Agriculture Minister Chaluvaraya Swamy was sent by the state government to receive the Charter of Demands placed by the state committee. It was read out by Varalakshmi.

The rally was inaugurated in a unique way by representatives who participated in the recent struggles of various sections of the people. Carrying red flags, they greeted leaders on the dais. The representatives included fighters who participated in anti-land acquisition struggles in Channarayapatna, Sarjapaur and Kolar, Jenukurba Adivasis from Kodagu, the family members of women victims of the Dharmasthala rape and murder cases, Marakumbi Dalits who fought against untouchability upto conviction by the court; Devadasis, industrial workers, IT workers, students and youth in various struggles. Revolutionary songs by Janni and his team and the Jandani band reverberated in the rally, at the start as well as interspersed between speeches.

Prakash spoke at length about problems being faced by various sections of working people and the set of policies causing them. While referring to the political crisis plaguing the state, he emphasised that neither change of the Chief Minister, ministers nor even political parties or electoral politics alone can solve the problems. He emphasised that an alternative politics of people’s struggles, focusing on people’s issues with appropriate change of policies is required. He promised that the CPI(M) along with other left and democratic forces alone can herald such an alternative politics.

Meenakshi Sundaram spoke about the anti-working-class policies pursued both by the state and central governments.  He criticised the anti-labour Labour Codes brought by the central government and non-implementation of the minimum wages by the state government. He pointed to the Kerala LDF refusing to implementthe Labour Codes in the state as an example of alternative politics. He called for a real ‘November Revolution’ (mocking a factional Congress leader who predicted change of the Chief Minister in November with these words), in which minimum wages will be declared for 1.75 crores of workers of the state.

Neela spoke about the unabated atrocities on women and measures required to tackle them on a war-footing. Yashwant spoke about agrarian issues and policy changes required. Munivenkatappa spoke about the failure to address the housing question, irrigation and provision of drinking water. Chandrappa Hoskera spoke about the disaster facing rural labour on dismantling of MNREGA. A Gopalakrishna delved into the continued atrocities on Dalits in the state and non-implementation of many policies addressing Dalit issues. Muneer Katipalla expressed anguish at the abject failure and lack of political will of the Congress government in tackling the aggressive, violent communal campaign of the Sangh Parivar, as well as preventing continued communalisation of society and defending secular politics. U Basavaraj summed up the problems of the state and the CPI(M)’s prescription of policies.

Mahantesh conducted the proceedings. Prathap Simha welcome the gathering and B N Manjunath proposed a vote of thanks.