The CPIML campaign for assembly elections in Jharkhand, and bye-elections on four seats, one each in Bihar, Assam, West Bengal and Rajasthan, witnessed a vibrant participation of various sections of the people centering around the issues of immense hardships to the people, countering BJP’s pro-corporate crony politics and attempts of communal polarisation through spread of hatred and lies. Party candidates raised the issues of rights and livelihoods, and in defence of democracy and constitution.
Jharkhand
In Jharkhand, CPIML contested in four seats - Bagodar, Nirsa, Sindri, and Dhanwar. Arup Chatterjee, a former MLA from Nirsa (Dhanbad) and a member of the party Central Committee, won the Nirsa assembly constituency with 1,04,855 votes defeating BJP’s Aparna Sengupta. Chandradev Mahato won from Sindri defeating BJP’s Tara Devi. He received 1,05,136 votes. Vinod Singh from Bagodar and Rajkumar Yadav lost from Bagodar and Dhanwar respectively. In Bagodar CPIML polled 94,884 votes and in Dhanwar 32,187. Party has held Bagodar seat since 1990, with the exception of a narrow margin defeat in 2014. Comrade Mahendra Singh represented Bagodar until his assassination after filing his nomination for the 2005 Assembly elections, the first election following the formation of the state. Comrade Vinod Singh has been representing this seat since then. Bagodar, Nirsa and Sindri were fought as part of the INDIA alliance, while in Dhanwar, JMM had also fielded its candidate.
CPIML’s election manifesto for Jharkhand was released on November 3, 2024, focused on defeating BJP to protect the resources of the state that the Modi-BJP regime wants to destroy and exploit for the benefit of its corporate cronies. It also noted that the Modi government has consistently targeted Jharkhand, disrespecting the 2019 state mandate. The BJP has weaponized institutions like the ED and CBI to undermine the rights of people of Jharkhand and has fueled communal tensions. Promises regarding employment and reservation policy have been stalled.
The Jharkhand manifesto also focused on generating employment opportunities in the state and called for reversing the privatisation of mining, industry, and services. The improved budget allocations for education, ensuring quality schooling at the block level and accessible transportation for students was also a major pledge in the manifesto along with increased funding for education, health, sports, and universal housing and universal access to ration. The burning issue of environment and fight against deforestation, destruction of rivers, land-grab policies and productive lands being converted into residential zones and ever-growing mountains of debris that are disrupting Jharkhand’s ecosystem were raised prominently. It also called for strict enforcement of the Fifth Schedule to protect Jharkhand’s ecology and indigenous heritage.
Speaking at the INDIA Alliance rally in Sindri, CPIML General Secretary Dipnakar Bhattacharya said Sindri has been the historic centre of Comrade AK Roy’s struggle, represented subsequently by stalwarts like Binod Bihari Mahato and Anand Mahato. But because of an unfortunate division in the pro-Jharkhand state political camp this legendary cradle of the Jharkhand movement has fallen in the hands of the BJP. Time has come to hold high the red flag in this citadel of the working class movement and free Sindri from the clutches of the corporate-communal nexus.”
The Jharkhand campaign also witnessed Women’s Dialogue led by AIPWA leader Meena Tiwari and Youth Dialogues that witnessed vibrant participation with the clarion call for rights and justice. Raja Ram Singh, MP from Karakat, Sudama Prasad, MP from Arrah and leaders from Bihar also took part in campaigning in Jharkhand. Party ranks actively campaigned in all assembly seats in the state in support of INDIA bloc candidates with enthusiasm.
Complaint against BJP’s Fake News
CPIML on November 10, 2024 filed an official complaint against the BJP in Jharkhand for spreading false propaganda in violation of the Model Code of Conduct in the Sindri Assembly constituency. In a letter addressed to Rajiv Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner, CPIML’s Jharkhand State Secretary Manoj Bhakt said that the BJP has been running a disinformation campaign against CPIML candidates and the party itself, including incitement to violence.
Comrade Manoj Bhakt, in the letter to ECI demanded swift action against the BJP, urging the Election Commission to remove the false videos and materials being circulated by BJP against CPIML. He stated that without prompt intervention, such misleading campaigns could severely impact the fairness of the electoral process.
Party thanked the people of Jharkhand for emphatically rejecting the BJP's hate campaign and sinister agenda of inflicting Adani Raj on this resource-rich state by giving such an overwhelming mandate in favour of the INDIA coalition.
Bihar
In the Tarari bye-election, CPI(ML) leader Raju Yadav was the candidate supported by the INDIA alliance. The assembly seat became vacant after the sitting MLA Sudama Prasad won the Ara Lok Sabha seat defeating the BJP’s RK Singh. CPIML was not able to retain this seat and Comrade Raju Yadav lost by a thin margin. He polled 68,143 votes.
During the campaign, a joint INDIA alliance rally was organised on 11 November in Tarari, which was joined by Dipankar Bhattacharya, Tejashwi Yadav and Mukesh Sahani.
A desperate BJP camp resorted to violence and intimidation of voters in Tarari at some booths. In booth no 223, village Dharmapura, feudal communal elements in support of BJP candidate attacked CPIML voters with impunity. The incident was reported to local administration immediately but the Election Commission did not initiate any action against this brazen violation of the code of conduct to ensure free and fair polling. Lalan Yadav was seriously injured in this attack and had to be hospitalised for many days. While he was treated in the hospital, local police lodged a false case against the victim himself. Such an administrative bias is not new in Bihar! He was later set free when the Chief Judicial Magistrate refused to send him to jail and verbally scolded the police for this injustice. The police have not arrested any of the attackers so far.
WB, Rajasthan and Assam
In the West Bengal by-election, CPIML fielded Debajyoti Mazumdar from the Naihati Assembly Constituency, supported by the Left Front. He received 7,593 votes. In Rajasthan, Shankar Lal Meena was the candidate for the Salumbar (ST). He received 1771 votes. In Assam, CPIML leader Lakhikanta Kurmi contested from Behali securing 5093 votes.
This time again the elections were marked with rampant violations of model code of conduct and vicious, hate-filled false narratives by the BJP leaders besides an even more vitriolic and divisive propaganda through unofficial social media handles of the BJP-RSS establishment. On a number of occasions opposition parties made complaints to the Election Commission which went unheard without any remedy. BJP leaders like Narendra Modi, Himanta Biswa Sarma and Adityanath spread lies in their speeches in Jharkhand but their divisive agenda was rejected as is evident in the final outcome of the elections.
Ruling establishment's misuse of administrative machinery and huge amounts of black money is gradually corrupting the democratic nature of polity. A BJP general secretary was caught red handed distributing cash on the eve of election in Mumbai, but he was treated very softly.
The frequency of intimidation and threats to opposition parties' voters with the help, or direct involvement, of police and administration has increased to dangerous proportions. The polling day incidents in Uttar Pradesh pose a strong warning to all democracy loving people where Muslim voters in many constituencies were not allowed to exercise their voting right on filthy pretexts. Thanks to some videos which went viral on that day reporting police harassing minority voters, including women. The ECI suspended seven police officials after one such incident was reported through a tweet by SP leader Akhilesh Yadav. But this was only a face wash action as the voters in Muslim areas continued to be stopped from going to polling booths. This brazen crooked act of disenfranchising a huge minority population undoubtedly poses a direct threat to the democratic system. The bye-elections held in nine seats in Uttar Pradesh need to be investigated thoroughly where some seats which are supposedly traditional Samajwadi Party strongholds were lost to the NDA candidates because opposition voters could not exercise their democratic right to vote for the fear of life.
INTERVIEW
“Issues of Toiling Masses and the Call for Gender Justice formed the Bedrock of Our Campaign in Naihati”
CPI(ML) contested the bye-election of Naihati assembly constituency in West Bengal, supported by CPI(M) and the Left Front. Liberation spoke to CPI(ML) candidate Debajyoti Majumder, a retired Bank employee and an active trade union cadre, about the election campaign and issues faced by the people of Naihati.
Q : What were the main issues and focus of our election campaign?
Debajyoti Majumder (DM): Our main focus of the campaign among the jute mill dominated areas was to address the plight and predicament of jute workers. At present the entire jute industry is in the throes of collapse. Under the pretext of demand crunch, the owners of the mills has curtailed production, reduced shifts and the workers are working only for 48 hours in a week, the statutory retiral dues of provident fund and gratuity are not disbursed, the employers are not abiding by the signed tripartite agreement, and the state govt has given a free hand to the mill owners to violate all the labour laws to the hilt. We also addressed the issues of scheme workers, particularly of the mid day meal workers, their legitimate demand of fixing minimum wages, recognition as govt employees etc. Re-opening the closed mills was also a burning issue. The state govt miserably failed to provide new decent job opportunities that forced labour migration to other states on a huge scale was also a talking point. The false narrative of development was the main election plank of the ruling TMC. And interestingly, during the entire phase, BJP’s presence was very much insignificant. Congress also contested from this constituency, but they virtually remained nonexistent.
Q : What was the impact of the RG Kar issue among the electorates?
DM: The Justice for RG Kar was our major election issue. We highlighted women's issues, the demand for fearless freedom, the most powerful slogan that emerged during the course of movement. An all-pervasive threat-culture and peoples' health were also our election issues.
Q : What was the response of the Jute and other sections of workers'?
DM: The leadership of Jute federations of different mills plunged into the election campaign. During the last lag, our MLA of Bihar, Com Satyadeo Ram initiated an energetic campaign among the Jute workers and their response was quite good.
Q: For the first time in WB, CPIML contested as part of the left bloc in this election. Do you think this would strengthen unity among left forces at the grass root level?
DM: This has generated new hope and optimism among the left forces, not only in Naihati, but the state as well. This was an energetic, well-organised election campaign, which was reckoned by all left parties.
