marxistindia

news from the cpi(m)

February 3, 2025

Press Release 

Extracts from the Draft Political Resolution for the 24th Party Congress of CPI(M) 

Main Features of the National Situation   

2.1  Three years after the 23rd Congress, the main features of the national situation are as follows: 

i) The period has seen an aggressive continuation of the Hindutva drive of the BJP government through various State-sponsored activities, such as the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya in January 2024, the adoption of a Uniform Civil Code by the Uttarakhand BJP state government and the passing of various laws in the BJP-ruled states targeting Muslim minorities, like the prohibition of interfaith marriages and the proposed Waqf

(Amendment) Bill in Parliament. At the ground level, there are constant and recurrent instances of violence against Muslim minorities using all religious festival processions and through claims over mosques. This is aimed at creating a permanent communal divide and consolidating an overarching pan-Hindu identity. 

ii) The economic policies pursued by the BJP government have been primarily aimed at facilitating the transfer of resources and assets to big capitalists. A chosen group of big companies has reaped super profits through infrastructure and energy projects. These policies have led to sluggish growth, rising inequalities, unemployment and inflation. 

iii)  The last three years witnessed a heightened attack on democracy and the democratic rights of citizens. The use of Central agencies to file cases and imprison opposition leaders became more brazen, utilising the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Independent media and journalists were also targeted. The curbs on the functioning of Parliament became more severe. 

iv) The unitary drive of the Centre intensified with further assaults on states' rights; denial of resources to opposition-ruled states; and the interference of Governors in the affairs of state governments becoming more blatant. 

v) The pro-US foreign policy and strategic ties with US imperialism were strengthened. However, the realities of a growing multi-polar world have compelled the Modi government to make India an active partner in BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). 

vi) The period saw various struggles by the working class against privatisation, the imposition of labour codes, for minimum wages and the right to form unions. The united peasant movement continued its struggle for a legal basis for a minimum support price and other demands. There were growing joint activities between Central trade unions (CTU) and the united kisan platform (SKM). 

vii)  The 2024 Lok Sabha election result was a setback for the BJP. It failed to get a majority in the Lok Sabha and has to depend on its NDA partners in the coalition government. However, the BJP seeks to overcome this weakness by pushing ahead with its Hindutva-corporate and authoritarian agenda.

Increase the Strength of CPI (M) 

2.79 The 18th Lok Sabha election review has underlined the urgent necessity to expand the independent strength of the Party, as the election results show that the Party's mass base and influence have not grown. To achieve this, the following steps have to be taken: 

1. The Party's work among the basic classes should be given priority. The weakness of struggles of the rural poor against the exploitation by the rural-rich nexus must be overcome. There should be concrete studies on the issues on which such struggles can be conducted. The Party has to expand its influence among the workers in the organised sector in the manufacturing and strategic industries and give importance to organising the contractual workers in the organised sector. The Party should pay attention to fostering worker-peasant unity and united actions.

Focussed efforts to undertake the anti-Hindutva campaign among the basic classes and to politicise those rallying behind struggles should be undertaken. 

2. The Party should pay more attention to the independent political campaign and mass mobilisations around the political platform of the Party.

There should be no blurring of our independent identity or diminishing our independent activities in the name of electoral understanding or alliances.

Special attention should be paid to the ideological work and campaign to counter the ideology and activities of the RSS-Hindutva forces. 

3. The importance of taking up mass and class issues for local struggles on a sustained basis should be underlined. The lag in this regard should be overcome. Higher committees should orient the local units and branches towards this. Innovative and imaginative forms of struggles and movements should be worked out instead of stereotyped forms of protest.

4. The Party should directly campaign and conduct struggles on issues of social and caste oppression and gender discrimination. The struggles against social oppression should be linked with the struggles against class exploitation.

5. The Party's political platform and demands should address the issues relevant to the youth and the campaign that 'Socialism is the Alternative' should be specifically addressed to them.

6. A significant increase in the strength of the Party requires the rebuilding and expansion of the Party and the Left in West Bengal and Tripura. In West Bengal, while conducting mass struggles and movements, special attention should be paid to work among the rural poor and organising them. The Party has to focus more on the political and ideological fight against the BJP while opposing both the TMC and the BJP. In Tripura, the Party should strengthen the grassroots organisation and take up a programme which will unite the working people while addressing the special needs and issues of the tribal people.

7. Kerala is the biggest unit of the Party with a powerful mass base. The LDF government, in its second successive term, has been working against heavy odds due to the Centre's hostile attitude and the concerted campaign of all anti-Communist forces in the state. The Lok Sabha election results have shown weaknesses in our political and ideological work to counter the BJP.  These should be overcome. The government is committed to eliminate extreme poverty and to provide housing for all. Even though the state is facing a financial crisis due to the discriminatory approach of the Central government, the government is prioritising its expenditure for the welfare measures oriented towards the poor and the working people. 

Political Line

2.83 The nearly eleven years of the Modi government's rule have resulted in the consolidation of the rightwing, communal, authoritarian forces with neo-fascist characteristics. 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. 

2.84  Isolating and defeating the BJP and the Hindutva forces requires a continuous struggle against the Hindutva ideology and the activities of the communal forces. The Party must strive for the broadest mobilisation of all secular forces against Hindutva communalism. 

2.85 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. It also requires the integration of the struggle against Hindutva communalism and the struggle against neo-liberal policies. 

2.86 The fight against the Modi government and the BJP must be carried out by conducting class and mass struggles against the pro-corporate, neo-liberal policies which have intensified the exploitation of the working people and adversely affect their livelihoods and living conditions. The Party should be at the forefront in opposing crony capitalism, the loot of national assets and large-scale privatisation. 

2.87 The Party will cooperate with INDIA bloc parties in Parliament and, on agreed issues outside Parliament. The Party will join hands with all secular democratic forces on issues of authoritarian onslaughts against democracy, the use of draconian laws to suppress dissent and the opposition to efforts to subvert the Constitution and the institutions of the State. 

2.88 The Party will cooperate with those regional parties which are firmly opposing the BJP. Where such regional parties head state governments, the Party will support any policy which benefits the people, but will oppose and mobilise people against policies that adversely affect the working people. 

2.89 The Party will support united platforms and united actions of the class and mass organisations. It should make all efforts to draw in the masses following the bourgeois parties for united actions. 

2.90 While prioritising the development of the independent strength of the Party, there should also be efforts to revive and strengthen Left unity.

United Left campaigns and struggles must highlight the alternative policies of the Left. The Party should work to rally all Left and democratic forces, including mass organisations and social movements, to constitute a Left and democratic platform and programme. 

2.91 Appropriate electoral tactics can be adopted as per the above political line to maximise the pooling of anti-BJP votes.

Tasks 

2.92  (1) The Party should step up its campaigns and struggles against the neo-liberal economic policies, Hindutva communalism and authoritarian attacks on democracy. 

(2)  The Party should develop and intensify struggles of the rural poor, working class and urban poor on livelihood issues, land, food, wages, house sites, social security benefits and employment opportunities. 

(3) The Party should strive for the broadest unity of all secular-democratic forces against Hindutva communalism. 

(4) The Party should consistently stand for the protection of democracy, democratic rights and civil liberties. It should cooperate to forge wider unity against authoritarian attacks to suppress dissent and opposition, misuse of Central agencies and subversion of Constitutional bodies. 

(5) The Party should actively take up the fight against all forms of caste oppression and discrimination.  The Party should champion the rights of women, dalits, adivasis and religious minorities. The Party should pay special attention to work in tribal areas. 

(6) The Party should work to raise the anti-imperialist consciousness of the Indian people and mobilise popular opinion against the Modi government's pro-US foreign policy and strategic alliance with the US. 

(7) The Party should rally forces for the defence of the rights of states and for federalism. It must take up the defence of the LDF government in Kerala and support its efforts to implement pro-people policies. 

(8)The Party should work for building a Left and Democratic Front and project a Left Democratic Programme as an alternative. This must also be linked to the campaign for Socialism as the Alternative - a socialism in tune with Indian conditions.