The 24th Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) came to a close in Madurai on April 6. The Political Resolution adopted at the Congress sets forth the primary objective of isolating and defeating the BJP-RSS combine. It correctly analyses that nearly 11 years of the Modi government’s rule have resulted in the consolidation of right-wing, communal, authoritarian forces with neo-fascist characteristics. It underlines that “the Modi government represents the alliance of Hindutva forces and the big bourgeoisie. Hence, the prime task is to fight and defeat the BJP-RSS and the Hindutva-corporate nexus underpinning it.”
It needs to be emphasised that isolating and defeating the BJP and Hindutva forces can only be done by conducting a continuous struggle against the ideology and activities of the communal forces. Even while striving for the broadest mobilisation of all secular forces against Hindutva communalism, the CPI(M) is clear that “the success of the struggles against the Hindutva neo-liberal regime requires the growth of the independent strength of the CPI(M) and the Left forces.”
The stagnation — and later, the decline — in the independent strength and influence of the Party and the Left has been a matter of concern for quite some time. The Party had to face severe setbacks in its erstwhile citadels of West Bengal and Tripura, consequent to the erosion of its mass base.
In this regard, the Political Review Report, while noting that the Party was successful in mobilising the broadest secular forces against the BJP, also admits, self-critically, that it failed in fulfilling the other task set by the 23rd Congress: simultaneously increasing the strength and influence of the CPI(M) and the Left.
Reiterating that the Political-Tactical Line adopted at the 23rd Congress was correct, the 24th Congress has called for gearing up the Party to conduct sustained activities in the political, ideological, cultural, economic, and social spheres to counter the influence and activities of Hindutva and various RSS outfits. It reiterates that the BJP and RSS cannot be isolated from each other, and that they cannot be defeated solely through electoral battles. Given that, in the last decade, Hindutva forces have created a substantial support base grounded in ideological influence, it is necessary to have a comprehensive programme to counter them.
Towards this, the Party will pay special attention to organising anti-communal work through social and cultural activities among the working class and in working-class residential areas, trade unions, and other mass organisations and platforms. Among other measures, the Party will reach out to believers to explain the difference between religious faith and the misuse of religion for political gains. It will try to intervene in festivals and social gatherings to prevent their misuse for communal politics, and will encourage and strengthen inter-faith and inter-caste syncretic initiatives present in such festivals and events. It will also be involved in social service activities and popular science movements, promote secular and scientific thinking, and initiate broad-based cultural activities to counter Manuvadi and obscurantist values.
The Congress underscored that, to significantly strengthen the Party, the rebuilding and expansion of the CPI(M) and the Left in West Bengal and Tripura is paramount. In West Bengal, special attention will be paid to work among the rural and urban poor, and efforts will be made towards organising them. In Tripura, the Congress has directed that the Party should strengthen grassroots organisation and take up a programme that will unite the working people while addressing the special needs and issues of the tribal people.
Even while making all-out efforts to regain the confidence of the people in West Bengal and Tripura, the Party will strive to expand its influence in other states as well. The 24th Congress has, therefore, emphasised that the Party’s work among the basic classes should be given priority. It has called for overcoming the weaknesses in the struggles of the rural poor against exploitation by the rural-rich nexus. It is also clear that the Party should pay more attention to independent political campaigns and mass mobilisations, that “there should be no blurring of our independent identity or diminishing our independent activities in the name of electoral understanding or alliances.”
Rather than relying on the traditional approach of caste, gender, and social issues being raised solely by respective mass organisations, the Party has, for some time now, advocated that it should directly campaign and conduct struggles on these issues — while also linking them with the struggles against class exploitation.
Various hitherto suppressed, oppressed, and marginalised sections have been asserting their identities and fighting for their rights. It is incumbent upon the Party not just to express solidarity with their struggles, but to be an active part of them. Even the Party Programme, adopted decades ago, views the assertions by Dalits and their democratic content as reflecting the aspirations of the most oppressed sections of society. The Programme promises to ensure the rights of disabled persons to live a dignified life. It dwells on the issues faced by the tribal population as well. The Congress has, through Resolutions, sought to draw attention to these marginalised sections, along with the issues confronting the LGBTQ+ community.
The Party recognises that a crucial factor in its future growth lies in attracting more youth. Its appeal among the youth — as something different from other bourgeois parties — must be established. The search and hunger of the youth for an alternative must be addressed. Towards this, the Political Review Report states: “An important aspect which is lacking in our political and ideological campaign is the propagation of the goal of socialism. The Left and democratic alternative that we talk about should be linked to socialism. This is all the more necessary to enhance our appeal to the newer generations, who have come in the period after the fall of the Soviet Union and setbacks to socialism.”
The writer is the new General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
