CPI(M) West Bengal's 26th Conference Gets Underway in Kolkata

Kolkata: With the unfurling of the red flag by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Politburo member Biman Basu and garlanding at the Martyr's Column, the Left party's 26th conference of the West Bengal state committee began today at Kolkata. 

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, state secretary Dr Suryakanta Mishra, and CPI(M) Politburo member Biman Basu were among those present at the state conference. Dr Suryakanta Mishra proposed the name of the presidium to administer the conference. Biman Basu, Ramchandra Dom, Devleena Hembrem, and MD Salim made up the presidium of the conference, and all members of the state committee were given the duty of the steering committee.

The presidium then announced the name of the credential committee and the minutes committee; Sayandeep Mitra was made the convenor of the credential committee along with Debesh Das and Mayukh Biswas. Ayanangshu Sarkar, Nabanita Chakraborty, Indrajit Ghosh, Said Ahmad Said, and Jana Mukherjee formed part of the minutes committee of the conference.

CPI(M) Politburo members Prakash Karat, Hannan Mollah, Nilotpaul Basu, Tapan Sen were also present at the state conference. Generally, the party's state conference continues for four days, but this time, due to Covid-19 and other issues, the duration of the state conference has been curtailed to three days. Delegates representing all the 22 districts of the state were present at the conference.

In his inaugural speech, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury highlighted the dangers of right-wing fascist forces in the country and elaborated on the draft political resolution prepared by the central committee; a copy of the resolution was distributed at the state conference.

Three proposals, including one for free and independent media, one for "protecting the rights of women and to fight for alternative", and another against "communalism", were also raised at the conference.

Suryakanta Mishra also placed his organisational report at the conference. In the report, he talked about the state's economy not being in good shape, and if it continues like that, the crisis will deepen crony capitalism that has set in the state, with the latest example being the attack on people's livelihood at Deocha Pachami. Earlier, it had been marked during the chit fund scam of the state, he elaborated in his report. In the report, the barbaric murder of the student leader of Aliah University, Anis Khan, was also mentioned. It has also been marked that the truth was yet to come out in these cases.

The report reviewed past elections and set the route map of assembling all the anti-Trinamool Congress and anti-BJP forces under one roof have been discussed. The tactical role to be embraced by the party before the elections also found its place in the report. It also alleged that not a single free and fair election has taken place in West Bengal in recent years. "In all these elections, our complaints have never been properly addressed by the election commission," Mishra said. He also mentioned that the party has to go miles before any credible alternative can be set up in the state.

Like the last two times, the 26th conference of the party is being held at the PDG auditorium, which is also the Kolkata district office of the CPI(M). The area's name has been changed to Nirupam Sen Nagar on account of the conference. This year also marks the 75th year of Tebhaga revolt and is the 100th birth centenary of famous sculptor Somnath Hore. The entrance to the auditorium, a memento dedicated to Hore is put in place. 

About 350 delegates, 105 observers, and logistical activists were present at the conference. The reception committee will look after a total of 129 delegates from the far off districts. The meeting, which will continue for three days, consists of 50 volunteers and associate workers. There are also different kiosks at the venue set up by the social media unit -- M-Red volunteers and the National Book Agency. An exhibition is also underway at the venue with bright flexes and posters depicting the various aspects of the party and its history in Bengal.

IT can be recalled that the first state conference of the communist party was held at Metiabruz in Kolkata in 1934. Before that, in 1931, the party's Kolkata committee in then undivided Bengal had started working with Abdul Halim as the secretary. In the first conference, as Halim was imprisoned by the British forces, Mani Chattopadhya was elected the secretary of the Bengal committee or the provincial committee of the party. However, from 1936 onwards to the second state conference of the party, Gopen Chakraborty held the responsibility as the secretary of the Bengal committee.