THE 23rd state conference of Punjab state committee of CPI(M) was held at Ludhiana from November 24-25, 2021. Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) general secretary  along with Nilotpal Basu, Polit Bureau member and in-charge of Punjab state committee  remained present on both days to  guide  the conference  on behalf of the Central Committee. Gurchetan Singh Bassi unfurled the Party Flag. Sitaram Yechury led the delegates to pay tributes to the martyrs.  Roop Basant Singh Waraich, chairman, reception committee read out the welcome address on behalf of the reception committee.

Inaugurating the conference, Sitaram Yechury said that the peasant struggle has created a new history by forcing the Modi led BJP government to announce the repeal of the three anti-peasantry and pro-corporate agriculture laws. He termed it a big victory for the long drawn struggle of one year by the Indian peasantry. He further said that the Modi led BJP government is responsible for the death of 700 peasants who laid down their lives during the kisan struggle. He extended full support to the kisan struggle for the remaining demands of MSP, withdrawal of Electricity Amendment Bill  and compensation to the families of the martyred peasants etc. He accused the Modi government of selling the nation’s property to his corporate friends which was built during the last 70 years by the people. He lauded the presence of large number of youth in the conference.

Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon while addressing the inaugural session said that the Congress government in Punjab has failed to fulfill its promises made at the time of elections. He said that there was no let up in mining mafia and drug mafia activities, law and order is deteriorating and unemployment has further increased.

The delegate session began with a presidium consisting of Gurchetan Singh Bassi,  Lal Singh Dhanaula, Krishna Kumari, Abdul Sattar, and Major Singh Bhikhiwind  in the chair.  A total of 229 delegates and observers participated in the conference. Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon, state secretary presented the draft political and organisational report on behalf of the state committee. He said that the state committee has been able to unify and activate the entire Party membership in Punjab by its hard work during the period under review.  He said that there has been a marked improvement in participation in struggles all over the state.  He further said that the Party has been able to properly guide the students, youth and women fronts and there is significant improvement in their functioning. A very fruitful and constructive discussion took place on the report. A total of 42 delegates participated in the discussions.  Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon while replying to the discussions thanked the delegates for their suggestions and healthy criticism. He assured the delegates that all the suggestions will be incorporated in the final report. Thereafter the report was unanimously adopted by the conference.

Nilotpal Basu spoke in detail on the organisational issues. He congratulated the state committee for its most arduous task of unifying the Party in the state, activating the entire Party membership and bringing them into struggles. He hoped that the Party in Punjab will soon get back its earlier status. He appreciated the sincere efforts of the Punjab state committee to mobilise not only peasants but also other mass organisations like the CITU,  Khet Mazdoor Union, DYFI, Istri Sabha and  students for sending regular jathas to the Singhu and Tikri borders to strengthen the kisan Struggle.

A 36 member state committee was elected unanimously. 12 delegates and 3 alternate delegates were also elected unanimously for the Party Congress to be held in Kerala in April 2022.  A four member control commission was also elected unanimously.  A meeting of the newly elected state committee members held under the presidentship of  Sitaram Yechury unanimously elected Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon as state secretary for the second term.  Control Commission members elected Ranbir Singh Virk as chairman of the commission.

Sitaram Yechury delivered the concluding speech. He congratulated the delegates for a constructive discussion on the report and unanimous elections. He said that this conference has ushered in a new era in the history of Party in Punjab. He expressed confidence that the Party in Punjab would soon regain its lost glory in a short time. This unification conference will go a long way in strengthening the movement in the state.