THE two-day meeting of the CPI(M) Odisha State Committee, held on September 19–20, undertook a comprehensive review of the political and organisational situation in the state and chalked out a programme of struggles on the major issues confronting the people. Politburo member Srideep Bhattacharya and Central Secretariat member Dr K. Hemalata participated in the discussions. State Secretary Suresh Chandra Panigrahy presented the political and organisational report, followed by detailed discussion among the members.

The State Committee meets regularly, normally once every two months, to critically review political developments, the Party’s interventions and organisational work. The latest meeting placed particular emphasis on converting political assessment into concrete mass intervention, and mass intervention into sustained organisation.

POLITICAL SITUATION

The State Committee identified the emerging character of the BJP government in Odisha as a combination of corporate-oriented economic policies and Hindutva-based communal politics. The BJP came to power promising change and accelerated development. The crucial question, however, is: development for whom and in whose interests? Large corporate investment is being projected as the principal route to development, while Odisha’s minerals, land, forests, water, energy and infrastructure are increasingly being opened to big capital like Adani Group. The State Committee stressed that investment figures alone cannot define development. Employment, livelihoods, land rights, displacement, environmental protection and the interests of workers, peasants and tribal communities must remain central.

The “double engine” model is facilitating closer alignment between the Centre and state around capital centric jobless growth and corporate interests. This makes the struggle over Odisha’s natural resources inseparable from the struggle for people’s rights and economic justice.

The MMDR Amendment Act, 2026 has brought these questions sharply into public debate. The united opposition campaign of INDIA bloc of Odisha has brought together CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, Forward Bloc, Congress, NCP, Samajwadi Party and RJD around the demand for withdrawal of the legislation, with further mobilisation planned towards the September 29 Assembly action.  For the CPI(M), the issue concerns not merely mining legislation but Odisha’s resource rights, federalism, tribal livelihoods, environmental protection and public interest.

Alongside this economic orientation, the State Committee identified the growing political use of Hindutva and communal identity as a major challenge. Religious and social divisions can weaken the unity of working people and divert attention from pressing issues such as employment, price rise, livelihood insecurity, education, health and social security. The political response, therefore, must connect the defence of economic rights with the defence of secularism, democracy and people’s unity.

RECENT MOVEMENTS SHOW POSSIBILITY OF RESISTANCE      

The State Committee reviewed several recent experiences which demonstrate that determined mass action can create a wider political impact.

The Jantar Mantar student movement became an important national political experience. After weeks of student mobilisation, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25, amid the protests. This demonstrated that sustained youth mobilisation around concrete grievances can break through the apparent strength of an established ruling establishment. The Party’s assessment is that a message has been sent out among young people and wider democratic sections that the Modi regime is not invincible and that organised public pressure can force political accountability.

The experience of the August 10 nationwide civil disobedience movement was another important reference point. In Odisha, workers and farmers participated despite adverse weather conditions and floods. The task now is to deepen such participation by linking national issues with concrete local grievances and building sustained struggles at the grassroots.

A third significant development has been the united movement in Odisha against the MMDR Amendment Act. The issue has brought together Left and democratic forces and provided an opportunity to connect the question of mineral resources with the rights and livelihoods of people in mining areas. The recent mobilisation in Rayagada, Sundargarh and other mineral-rich districts has further expanded this campaign. A massive rally was also organised by our party at Koida in Sundargarh.

These experiences reinforce a key political lesson: when issues are concrete, demands are clear and organisation is persistent, political intervention can develop into wider mass resistance.

FROM PROGRAMMES TO SUSTAINED MASS INTERVENTION:

The Party’s recent memorial programmes have also provided valuable experience. The Sitaram Yechury Memorial programmes in Bhubaneswar, Rourkela and Berhampur, organised around “Youth at a Crossroads — Education, Employment and Democracy,” witnessed significant participation of students and young people. It showed the potential for political intervention among youth when their immediate concerns are addressed in an accessible manner.

The Shivaji Patnaik Memorial programme in Puri on “Repression, Displacement and Development” opened discussion on these issues. The Banamali Das Memorial meetings in Bhubaneswar and Balasore on “India at a Crossroads under the Modi Regime and Democratic Resistance” provided another platform for discussing the contemporary political situation.

The organisational lesson from all these programmes is clear: a successful event is only the beginning. Contacts made through programmes must be followed up with issue-based mobilisation, developing organisation and imbuing it with capacity to sustain struggles.

IMMEDIATE TASKS

The State Committee decided to intensify the campaign against the MMDR Amendment Act through public meetings, publications, leaflet distribution and mobilisation in mining districts, while expanding united action with INDIA bloc and Left parties. The September 29 Assembly gherao will be an important stage in this campaign.

The Party will simultaneously intensify work among flood-affected people. State Leaders, District and local committees have been asked to visit affected areas, assess actual losses and identify concrete demands relating to crop loss, houses, compensation, livelihood restoration and rehabilitation. The aim is to transform immediate relief concerns into organised struggles for justice and long-term scientific flood management.

The broader campaign—“Save People’s Lives, Protect People’s Rights, Save Odisha’s Resources”—will bring together the burning issues of price rise, employment, wages, MSP and paddy procurement, fertiliser and seed supply, irrigation, sharecroppers’ rights, agricultural workers, pensions and social security.

SAVE EDUCATION — SAVE SCHOOLS

The textbook crisis has exposed deeper weaknesses in the government education system. The State Committee called for timely supply of textbooks, adequate teachers, scholarships, hostels and infrastructure, along with a review of school closures and mergers. The Party has demanded the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over the textbook crisis.                                                                                                                                   

The Save Education — Save Schools campaign must now be developed into a statewide movement involving students, parents, teachers and local communities. Education must become an important field of sustained political and organisational intervention.

YOUTH, WOMEN, TRIBAL AND DALIT ISSUES

The State Committee decided to strengthen independent interventions among youth, women, tribal communities and Dalits. Among youth, the focus will be on vacant posts, transparent recruitment, regular employment and the right to a secure future. Women’s campaigns will address equal wages, workplace safety, employment and social security. Tribal struggles will centre on Jal, Jungle and Zameen, implementation of the Forest Rights Act and protection of Gram Sabha powers. Dalit struggles will focus on constitutional rights, caste discrimination and atrocities.

NOVEMBER STRUGGLE

The proposed block-level law-breaking agitation in the last week of November must become a major phase of the statewide campaign. Preparation should begin immediately. Local and district committees must identify a limited number of concrete demands, conduct systematic people-to-people contact, organise preparatory meetings and mobilise participation. The November action must not remain a one-day programme. Urban interventions before municipalities and administrative institutions must form an integral part of this campaign.

ORGANISATION: THE DECISIVE LINK

The State Committee recognised that political opportunities cannot be utilised without organisational consolidation. Every programme must have a follow-up plan. Every new contact must be systematically maintained. Every local issue must be linked with political education and organisation.

Study circles in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Puri, Bhadrak and Balasore will be strengthened. Marxist bulletins and short publications on contemporary issues will be expanded. A state-level workshop will develop more effective use of social media and news portals. Regular reviews at all levels, collective functioning, political education, responsibility-sharing and accountability have to be strengthened.

A CLEARER POLITICAL AND ORGANISATIONAL DIRECTION

The Rectification Guidelines Document of the Central Committee on Parliamentarism, Mass Line and Collective Functioning was introduced by Comrade Sridip Bhattacharya along with the report of the Polit Bureau meeting. Comrade K. Hemalata made a very positive and critical observation, emphasising the need to effectively implement and accomplish all the tasks adopted by the State Committee in the coming days. The political-organisational review reports and the future tasks were discussed and unanimously adopted.

The State Committee meeting has provided a clear direction for the coming period. The political situation contains serious challenges, but recent experiences also demonstrate the possibilities of resistance. The task of the CPI(M) is to systematically connect these possibilities with the everyday struggles of the people of Odisha.

CPI(M)’s clarion call is this: Reach the people. Identify their concrete demands. Build united struggles. Turn every struggle into an organisational opportunity. Strengthen secular and democratic unity. Defend Odisha’s resources and people’s rights.