ON November 13, joint militant demonstrations and dharnas were organised in most of the district headquarters led jointly by the CPI(M), CPI and Mahagathbandhan partners of Bihar.

Raising slogans against the anti-people, anti democratic and communal policies pursued by the central and state governments, the leaders and cadres of the platform in large numbers paraded the main thoroughfares in different districts and submitted the charter of demands, highlighting the failures of the government of the day on each and every front.  The 15 years misrule of the present regime has aggravated, the miseries of the peasants, workers, youths, students, women, dalits minorities etc. It has singularly failed to generate employment which has resulted in large scale migration of rural workers to the city centres and far off places in every nook and corner of the country to earn their livelihood.

On every social index, Bihar has fared badly. Wide spread prevalence of malnutrition among the children and the child bearing women bodes ill for the future of the state.

The government has failed to provide land to the homeless and other basic needs. Education and health services have become a distant dream for the poor and the deprived sections of the society as the two important basic needs are being privatised on daily basis.

Youths are restless as they face bleak future before their eyes. Thousands of students blocked the railway tracks in Sasaram, Nawada and Sitamarhi raising slogans against the privatisation of railway and burnt the effigies of Modi and central government.

The failure to protect the people from devastating flood in North Bihar and drought in South Bihar has exposed the much touted development trajectory which is nothing but window dressing. Water logging in Patna in the last week of September, which made the life hell for the residents of Patna city, confirmed the notorious nexus of land mafia corrupt bureaucrats, elected representatives belonging to BJP, JDU, combine. Patna is virtually run by the BJP and the whole country cannot forget the scene when the deputy CM of Bihar, Sushil Modi was rescued by the NDRF from his water logged home. He left behind his neighbours to face the life and death situation.

The Left Parties are on the forefront in raising these issues and also tried to rope in other opposition parties to mobilise the people for unleashing a powerful movement based on alternative pro-people issues.

The initiative of the RLSP(Rashtriya Lok Samta Party) to talk to the Left Parties and launch joint struggles along with other Mahagathbandhan partners is a welcome step and has sent a positive message to the common people of Bihar. The enthusiastic response in one day state wide programme will pave the way for many such joint movements in coming months. The move should not be construed as another exercise for election purposes, rather the CPI(M) sees it as an opportunity to unleash  mass movements along with other left parties.