THE two-day meeting of the Odisha State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was held at Koida in Sundargarh district on February 25–26, 2026. The meeting began with a massive procession and public rally at Koida, reflecting the strong participation and enthusiasm of workers, peasants, youth, and women. The rally was presided over by Comrade Laxman Munda, MLA (Bonai). Central and state leaders of the Party addressed the mammoth gathering.

The State Committee congratulated the working class, peasantry, and progressive and democratic political forces of the state for the overwhelming response to and success of the General Strike on February 12, in which CPI(M), its mass fronts, and other Left parties played a decisive role.

Polit Bureau Member Com. Srideep Bhattacharya and Central Secretariat Member Com. K. Hemalata attended the State Committee meeting and presented detailed reports on the international and national political situation, as adopted at the recent Central Committee meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram (January 16–18, 2026). A draft report on the political, economic, and social situation in Odisha was presented by State Secretary Com. Suresh Chandra Panigrahy. The meeting was presided over by State Secretariat Member Com. Ali Kishore Pattanaik. After detailed discussions and the State Secretary’s reply, the report on political developments, activities, and future tasks was adopted unanimously.

Political Situation in Odisha

The State Committee conducted a comprehensive discussion on the current political situation in Odisha.

1. BJP Government and Its Character: The BJP government in Odisha is pursuing aggressive privatisation and administrative centralisation aligned with corporate interests. Key sectors such as mining, industry, ports, land, education, and health are increasingly being opened to corporate control. The government has failed to address the pressing issues of the people including price rise, unemployment, minimum wages, land rights, and social security. Communal polarisation and Hindutva politics are being used to divert attention from livelihood crises. Democratic institutions are being weakened, and efforts are underway to suppress and divide opposition forces. Corporate loot of mineral resources and anti-worker policies have intensified under the so-called “double engine” regime. Despite these attempts, public dissatisfaction and anger are growing. The crisis in paddy procurement, electricity tariff hikes, compulsory smart meter connections, price rise, rising unemployment, and the February 12 General Strike reflect mounting public anger against the government.

2. Economic and Livelihood Crisis: The State Committee noted deepening economic distress during this period. The debt burden has increased, inflation remains high, and rural employment opportunities have sharply declined. Migration of workers to other states continues in large numbers. Under MGNREGA in the current financial year, the average number of workdays has fallen drastically despite the statutory guarantee of 100 days. Budgetary allocations remain inadequate. Attacks on food security through large-scale cancellation of ration cards under Aadhaar-linked verification (e-KYC) have adversely affected many genuine beneficiaries. The paddy procurement crisis has intensified due to delays in opening mandis, quality deductions, and storage bottlenecks. Farmers are being forced to sell paddy below MSP to private traders. Agitations across several districts reflect deep agrarian distress. Electricity tariff hike proposals and the compulsory installation of smart meters are imposing additional burdens on consumers and farmers. At the same time, the government has proposed increasing the salaries and pensions of MLAs, exposing its class bias. This proposal was halted due to the effective intervention of CPI(M), its MLA, and the subsequent large-scale public protests across Odisha. The meeting also expressed serious concern over the deteriorating law and order situation, rising crimes against women, and increasing communal attacks on minorities and migrant workers. Such incidents threaten communal harmony and constitutional values.

3. Role of BJD and Congress: The State Committee observed that the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), despite being in opposition, has not demonstrated a clear policy alternative to the BJP. Its past governance was marked by corporate-oriented policies, and its current political stand remains ambiguous on crucial issues. The Congress party remains organisationally weak in Odisha. Although it has undertaken certain programs, it has not consistently built mass struggles or presented a clear alternative policy framework.

4. Position and Approach of the Left: Despite limited strength, Left forces continue to play an active role in struggles of workers, peasants, Adivasis, and other peoples. The Party reaffirmed that strengthening its independent political strength, based on class and mass struggles, remains its fundamental approach.

CPI(M) Focus

The meeting decided that the Party’s focus will remain on:

·        Building movements around livelihood issues such as wages, labour codes, land rights, MSP, employment guarantee, PDS, health, education, and electricity among the urban and rural poor;

·        Uniting broad secular and democratic forces against communal polarisation and imperialist aggression;

·        Expanding the organisation among workers, youth, women, Adivasis, and the peasantry;

·        Using elections as a means to expand political influence, while prioritising mass struggles as the primary foundation.

Rajya Sabha Election

Regarding the upcoming Rajya Sabha member election from Odisha, the CPI(M) called for the selection of an eminent independent candidate committed to constitutional values, democracy, and secularism for the fourth seat. The Party resolved to play a constructive role in facilitating consensus among opposition parties to support a suitable independent candidate against the BJP in the larger democratic interest.

Implementation of Central Committee Decisions

The Odisha State Committee resolved to implement the decisions taken at the Central Committee meeting in Thiruvananthapuram. Major directions include:

·        Intensifying the struggle against the dilution of MGNREGA, Labour Codes, the Electricity Amendment Bill, and other anti-worker legislations.

·        Organising statewide campaigns to defend MGNREGA, demand the withdrawal of the VB-GRAMG Act, and mobilising job card holders and agricultural labourers.

·        Holding protest meetings against imperialist aggression, including US actions against Venezuela, threats to socialist Cuba, Israeli attacks on Gaza, and the current imperialist offensive in Iran, along with publishing explanatory materials in Odia.

·        Ensuring the participation of Odisha comrades in the all-India rally to be held in Delhi on March 24.

·        Completing membership renewal by March 31, 2026, and recruiting new members and candidate members from mass struggles in accordance with organizational guidelines.

·        Undertaking special initiatives to promote gender equality and strengthening mechanisms against sexual harassment through sensitisation programs.

·        Carrying out organisational consolidation, improving branch functioning, and conducting a continuous campaign for ideological clarity.

Statewide Programme and Campaign

The Odisha State Committee announced a statewide door-to-door campaign from April 1 to April 10, 2026, focusing on food security, employment, wages, land rights, labour codes, electricity, education, healthcare, pensions, and livelihood issues. This will be followed by block, zonal, urban ward, and panchayat-level public meetings and intensified statewide movements demanding: Repeal of the Labour Codes; Withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill; Legal guarantee of MSP; Protection of Adivasi land rights; Strengthening of MGNREGA; Withdrawal of anti-worker and pro-corporate policies of the BJP government. From March 8 (International Women’s Day) to May 5 (Marx Jayanti), memorial days and political observances will be conducted appropriately across the state by the Party and its mass organisations.

Organisational Work

Following the State Committee meeting, a Western Zone Party Class and a district-level workshop in Sundargarh district were organized to discuss the current political situation, immediate tasks, and strengthening of the organization. Similar zonal-level classes will be held in the South and North zones and will be completed by March 31, 2026. Two central-level zonal classes have already been completed during this period.

All district and local Committees and branches have been directed to continuously strengthen political intervention and organizational work in order to win the confidence of the working and oppressed people of Odisha.