Kerala - Alappuzha

Party will be one with the masses: VS

Photo: H. Vibhu

SETTING THE TONE: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan hands over the torch for the State conference of the CPI(M) to A. Vijayaraghavan, MP, at Martyrs’ Memorial at Vayalar on Sunday.

ALAPPUZHA: The State conference of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kottayam would live up to the expectations of the common man and showcase the true spirit of the party, said Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan here on Sunday.

Addressing the party cadre before flagging off a torch rally at the Martyrs’ Memorial at Vayalar, Mr. Achuthanandan said the policies pursued by the Congress-led government at the Centre helped only the rich class. The Left was the only political force opposing the onslaught of monopolist and imperialist forces and the public pinned their hopes on the party. The party will continue its format of people’s democratic revolution to achieve socialism and safeguard the interests of the poor and the downtrodden, he said.

CPI (M) Central Committee member and MP, A. Vijayaraghavan, who received the torch from Mr. Achuthanandan, said the Left, which had taken upon itself the mantle of countering efforts from right-wing ideologists and monopolists to destroy the secular and economic fabric of the country, was fighting attacks on the party from all sides. He said right-wing parties were now receiving support from certain media barons too. This would be tackled and the Kottayam State conference would give a fitting reply to detractors of the CPI(M), he said. C.S. Sujatha, K.S. Manoj, MPs, C.K. Sadashivan, A.M. Arif, MLAs, CPI (M) district secretary P.K. Chandranandan, Municipal Chairman P.P. Chittaranjan were present.

Staff Reporter writes from Kottayam: The State conference of the CPI(M) in preparation for the 19th party Congress formally got under way with the hoisting of the Red Flag at P. Krishna Pillai Nagar at Nehru Stadium here on Sunday evening in the presence of party workers and senior leaders, including State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. Senior party leader and chairman of the organising committee Vaikom Viswan hoisted the flag.

The flag was brought from Kayyur, which saw one of the first uprisings of the working class against oppression by feudal and imperialist forces in Kerala. The flag staff came from Neendoor where the working class had waged resistance against the land-owning class. The torch was flagged off from Vayalar by Chief Minister and hero of Vayalar-Punnappra agitation V. S. Achuthanandan.

The three processions led respectively by State secretariat member M.V. Govindan, State Committee member V.R. Bhaskaran and Central Committee member M. Vijayaraghavan converged at Nagampadom. The flag staff and flag were later taken to the venue at P. Krishna Pillai Nagar at Nehru Stadium. The torch was taken to E.M.S. Nagar at the Municipal Grounds, Thirunakkara, where the flame would continue to burn till the conference concludes.

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat will declare open the conference with the opening of the delegates’ session on Monday. He will inaugurate a public meeting in the evening on ‘Indo-U.S. Nuclear Deal: Truth and Illusion.’ A public conference on ‘Social Relevance of Marxism’ has been scheduled for Tuesday and the cultural meet for Thursday. The cultural seminar will be opened by social critic Sukumar Azhikode.

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