Port Blair, Jul 22: The meeting of the Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee of CPI (M) was held on 20th July, 2024 at Shaheed Bhavan, Anarkali, Port Blair in presence of Mr. G. Ramakrishnan, Polit Bureau Member of the Party. The meeting reviewed the result of general election to 18th Lok Sabha in detail.
The meeting noted that while there was an anti-incumbency wave against the BJP-led government at the centre in the entire country, such a wave was not seen in these islands which resulted in the BJP winning the Lok Sabha seat from A & N Islands. The meeting noted that the Indian National Congress and the former Member of Parliament never attempted to expose the anti-people policies of the BJP government and remained silent during the last five years. In the last election, the Congress won the election from A & N Islands with the support of the CPI (M) by a margin of 1400 votes. After winning the election, the Congress MP never opposed the BJP government and its policies and adopted a soft-peddling attitude towards BJP government. It was the CPI (M) which was the only political party in the islands, with its limited resources and reach, to expose the failures of the central government and its Administration in the islands.
The CPI (M) State Organising Committee noted that huge amount of money was spent by both the Congress and BJP in the election. However, even with the limited resources and fund, the CPI (M) was able to carry out the election campaign highlighting the unemployment, power cut, water scarcity, deplorable condition of rural and urban roads, growing corruption, etc.
CPI (M) has self-critically noted that the Party has failed to conduct ideological campaign against the Hindutva policies of the Sangh Parivar and BJP in these islands in an effective manner. The CPI (M) observed with concern that disillusioned with the anti- people and anti-working class policies of the central government and vacillating attitude of the Congress MP, a large section of people did not show any interest to vote in the election which is evident from the fact that the voting percentage in the Port Blair urban area was only 50%. Overall, 64% voters voted in the union territory.
CPI (M) observed that over the years, the traditional votes of the party have been shifted to BJP to a great extent. For the last nearly three decades, CPI (M) has not been able to arrest the erosion of party supporters/ sympathizers or to bring back these voters to the party. The Party has decided to take effective steps to bring back its traditional voters to the party.
Mr. G. Ramakrishnan, Polit Bureau Member reported the review undertaken by the CPI (M) Central Committee in its meeting held on 28 – 30 at New Delhi on the 18th Lok Sabha election in the country. He said that the CPI (M) is of the view that the results of the elections to the 18th Lok Sabha constitute a significant setback for the BJP. The people of India, asserting their defence of the Constitution and the secular democratic character of the republic, and expressing deep concerns over sharply declining livelihood conditions have deprived the BJP of a majority it had secured in the last two Lok Sabha elections of 2014 and 2019.
The CPI (M) State Organising Committee meeting has decided to continue to expose the anti-people policies of central government and the dangers of the Hinduta forces in these islands. Party has decided to moblise people in the rural and urban areas highlighting the local issues of their areas. The party meeting has also decided to undertake Ward Visit/Panchayat Visit in the entire union territory in the coming months. Party workers and leaders will visit each Ward in the Port Blair Municipal area and will meet the people. Similarly, the party leaders will visit each Gram Panchyat area in order to understand the issues and problems faced by the people.
CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee meeting adopted resolutions on (i) Early completion of construction of NH 4 (ii) immediate repair of rural and urban roads (iii) To keep in abeyance functioning of newly established Deemed University (iv) to improve health care system in the islands (v) To operationalise District Hospital, Garacharma (vi) Regularisation of services of DRMs under A & N Administration.
Mr. D. Ayyappan, Secretary, State Organising Committee presented the draft report on the election review in A & N Islands.
