Vote of Confidence in Karnataka Assembly Farcial : Prakash Karat

Prakash Karat, General Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist), has issued the following statement:

The vote of confidence conducted in the Karnataka Assembly was farcical and a gross violation of democratic norms. The CPI(M) reiterate that a proper vote of confidence must be taken in the Assembly in which all MLAs are allowed to participate and the vote recorded.

Without doing so, the Yeddyurappa government cannot be treated as having acquired a vote of confidence.

Postal Stamp on Communist leader Jeeva

Chief Post Master- General, Shanthi Nair,releasing a stamp on Communist leader P.Jeevanandam in Chennai on Saturday.
(From left) CPI leaders , D. Pandian, R. Raja, MP, N. Sankaraiah, C.S. Subramaniam , Parvathi Krishnan
and R.Nallakannu are in the picture

A M Gopu (New Age Weekly)

A commemorative stamp featuring indomitable fighter and legendary communist leader P. Jeevanadam, endearingly called as Jeeva, was released on the afternoon of August 22, 2010.
The function was held in the prestigious Sir Pitty Theagaraya Hall, T.Nagar, Chennai.

The Hall overflowed predominantly with the followers of the red movement of various hues, old timers and also other democratic-minded and left youth, men and women. Opening the meeting, D. Pandian, state secretary, CPI, said in his presidential remarks, ‘Jeeva was a unique communist leader who knew the mind and heart of the people and through alluring speeches, he ensured that people voted against the governments that went wrong .His self –denial and ardent patriotism prompted Mahatma Gandhi to call Jeeva the valuable asset of the nation. Gandhiji had said this when he was visiting Sera Vayal boarding and lodging school for poor dalit students, run by Jeeva, near karaikudi. Those were the days of intense struggle for independence of the country.

Jeeva was a brilliant orator and an excellent exponent of Tamil literature. He was not only a much sought-after revolutionary trade union leader, who was imprisoned many a time for directly heading the strikes and struggles of workers in different industries, but also as a Tamil scholar he was highly respected by educated intelligentsia, belonging to various walks of life, said CPI leader.

National council secretary and MP, D. Raja, said he never had the opportunity of seeing or hearing him though had read his writings in ‘Jana Sakthi’ that Jeeva had founded and edited from its very inception. Raja said he had heard a lot from Jeeva’s close associates like R. K. Kannan and others and pointed out how Jeeva had assimilated the principles of Marxism and explained them to the lay man through simple and powerful songs, composed by him.
CPI(M) control commission chairman N.Sankaraiah, who had met Jeeva for the first time in Vellore Jail in 1941, recalled how their struggles secured rights for the inmates of the prison, under the British regime. ‘Unity among the communist parties and the emergence of the left movement as an invincible force in the state will be the greatest tribute to Jeeva,’ he said.
CPI control commission chairman R. Nallakannu said Jeeva spread the ideas of socialism to every nook and corner of Tamilnadu and was revered and respected by all political parties. He reminded the fact that Jeeva was a member of the National council of the CPI, till he breathed his last.

The stamp was released by Shanthi Nair,Chief Post Master General, Tamilnadu circle and received by senior communist party leaders C. S. Subramaniam a centenarian, one of the founder-mem bers of the first group of the CPI at Chennai,along with B.Srini vasa Rao,Amir Hyder Alikhan, P.Sundaraiah, P.Rama murthy, S.V.Ghate and others and Parvathi Krishnan ex M.P. CPI Thenkasi constituency M. P.Lingam delivered vote of thanks.

Rs 5 denomination stamps worth of Rs 3 lakh and 25 thousand was sold out on the spot itself,as the district secretaries were vying with each other to purchase them. It was an inspiring sight to see almost all the members of Jeeva’s family, son, daughter, grandchildren ,and other relatives were present all through the solemn function

Brazen Constitutional Impropriety in Karnataka

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the unconstitutional and undemocratic manner in which the BJP state government in Karnataka has sought to continue to remain in office. Sixteen MLAs (eleven BJP and 5 independents) were disqualified and not allowed to enter the Assembly premises. As per the Supreme Court ruling in the Bommai judgement, a government has to prove its majority on the Floor of the House to continue in office. Any disqualification of an MLA can occur only after the vote when the party whip has been violated. Further, this cannot apply to independent MLAs. The Yeddyurappa government refused to have a division of votes in the House and relied on a voice vote to claim majority.

All this constitutes a brazen Constitutional impropriety and cannot be allowed. The Yeddyurappa government cannot remain in office unless it establishes its majority through a division of votes on the Floor of the Assembly.