CPIM performance in Himachal Pradesh local bodies election

PRESS STATEMENT issued by CPI(M) Himachal Pradesh State secretariat on the recently held panchayat elections

The Himachal Pradesh state secretariat of the Communist party of India Marxist has congratulated the people of the state for their support in electing the CPIM supported candidates in the recently held elections to the local bodies. In over 15 district panchayats (Zila Parishads), over 25 block panchayats (BDC members) and more than 75 Panchayat presidents & Vice Presidents are CPIM members or those who have been supported by the party .The figure of Left parties together would further go higher. The results have proven that the CPIM occupies the space of third party politics in the state. Not just has the party got tremendous support but a majority of the panchayats have elected non Congress, non BJP representatives.

The CPIM candidates have polled more than 1.5 lakh votes in the state. The list of the elected representatives is attached with this note. The CPIM has stated, the elected members will try to provide an alternative form of intervention in the Panchayati Raj Institutions. They will work for more democracy and greater involvement of the people. The focus would also be laid upon raising the demand of more funds for developmental activities in the countryside. AS of now except the national rural Employment Guarantee Act no other fund is provided for developmental activities. Further even in the MNREGA the scope of activity is limited which is further being squeezed. The elected members will try to become role models and exhibit exemplary work style which is free of corruption. The elected members of CPIM will not become building contractors in the rural developmental works as is the general practice followed by a large number of BJP and Congress elected representatives. These representatives in these institutions would also help in building struggles of the people on various issues confronting the people the foremost being the acute crisis prevalent in the agrarian sector. Issues and demands like increasing subsidy in agriculture, proper ration supply, meeting the actue shortage of LPG and kerosene would be in the priority list of the party representatives. Building struggle on the menace of wild animals, monkeys etc would also be built.

The CPIM has ridiculed both the BJP and the Congress for making exaggerated claims of their victory. The ruling BJP tried all its maneuvers but could not help the erosion of its vote share. The BJP has got a severe drubbing from the people. Despite the fact that the independents have won defeating both the BJP and Congress the ruling party is leaving no stone unturned claiming support of 75% of elected representatives? The CPIM has stated it is keeping a strict vigil on the developments of the formation of the chairpersons for various block and zila parishads. It will vote for those who have an impeccable record of serving the people and have clear credentials.

Sr.No Name of candidate Ward votes polled /position

1. Reena (W) Anandpur ZP 6629 First

2. Padama (W) Jhakri ZP 5153 First

3. Sukhdev Chauhau Rohru NP Vice Chairperson 1400 First

4. Balkrishan Bali Devrighat BDC 1104 First

5. Taravati Basantpur BDC 1357 First

6. Dropodi(W) Kotkhai BDC 1458 First

7. Om Prakash Chauhan Chaily ZP 2345 Second

8. Sohan Singh Thakur Devrighat ZP 2238 Second

9. Krishna(W) Narayan ZP 2720 Second

10. Savitri(W) Kungash ZP 4490/ist

11. Ramesh Buchehar ZP 3660/iind

12. Devki(W) Arsu ZP 4236/iind

13. Pamma Devi(W) Poshna ZP 3986/iind

14. Gita Nand BDC Anni 1346/ist

15 Pratap Thakur BDC Khunn Unopposed elected.

16. Ram lal BakshadZP 4875/ist

17. Kesar Singh Karsog ZP 5894/ist

18. Reema Devi(W) Dhaled ZP 3500/iind

19. Nagina(W) Ner ZP 2439/iind

20. Nirmala(W) Kummi ZP 2970/iind

21. Suresh Kumar Rewalsar 1292

22. Sohan Thakur Nabahi 2600/iind

23. Devendra Devi(W) Sainj ZP 3347/iind

24. Mahander Rana Khalwahan ZP 4090/iind

25. Jagdish Thakur Bheem Kataru ZP 3911/iind

26. Padam Dev Pangana 2183

27. Prakash Sharma Dhanyara 1780

28. Ravi Kant Kunnu 1600

29. Prabhash Rana Sarkaghat BDC 1456/ist

30. Jaywanti(W) BDC 1687/ist

31. Teja Devi (W) Balh BDC 1400/ist

32. Loveena devi Khera ZP 2508/iind

33. Sanyogita Devi(W) Kharaout ZP 2543/iind

34. Jogender Kumar Sarakkar 3624/ist

35. Baldev Singh Kala Amb 3041/iind

36. Santosh Kapoor(W) Rampur 3992/iind

37. Satpal Mann Dadahu 4450/ist

38. Ramesh Singta kandoBhatno 3150/iind

39. Gurnam Raipur Sanara 3310/iind

40. Ravinder Joshi DuleharBDC 1675/ist

41. Banti Devi Darlaghat ZP 2735/iind

42. Sudesh Thakur(W) Kahri 4040/ist

43. Kehar Singh Salooni 4023/ist

44. Rajeev Tissa 2873/iind

Trinamul Congress-Maoist Links

The tragic loss of lives and injuries to several in the Netai village under Binpur block, West Midnapur district of West Bengal on January 7 is a result of the violent politics indulged in by the Maoist-Trinamul combine. It should be recalled that earlier on December 16, 2010 when seven workers including a woman gram pradhan of Forward Bloc were brutally murdered in Jhalda in the Purulia district by Maoists, the TMC did not even issue a statement to condemn the killings, showing their complicity in the crime. This combine has sought to drive out Left cadre from the Jangal Mahal area using brutal methods in which over 122 tribal activists of the CPI(M) have been killed, hundreds of homes burnt and thousands driven out of the area. Peoples’ resistance in many areas has led to an improvement in the situation which is not to the liking of this combine. It is reported that on January 7, in a pre-planned move, efforts were made to violently attack those families of the CPI(M) who had returned to the village and those waiting in the displaced peoples camp to return, resulting in the violence in which precious lives were lost.

It is essential for the Home Minister Shri Chidambaram, instead of issuing partisan statements, to ensure that his Cabinet colleague Railway Minister Mamta Bannerjee break her party’s links with the Maoists which is the single biggest factor responsible for the present situation.

Sibal's Defence: Govt has Lost all Credibility

The bizarre defence by Kapil Sibal, the Minster for Telecommunications of the 2G spectrum scam once again underlines the need for a JPC. The Minister by his unprecedented attack on the CAG is trying to undermine the various inquiries that are presently on and influence official agencies. This is totally unacceptable.

In his view, CAG used 2010 prices of 3G for 2008, where the subscriber base and the price of the rupee is different. Strangely enough, he does not – by the same logic -- see any problem of using 2001 prices for licenses when there were only 4 million subscribers in 2008, when the subscriber base was 300 million! For the Minister's information, not only CAG, but also TRAI has suggested using 3G prices (Section 3.82, dated 11th May 2010) for benchmarking 2G spectrum and has also given technical reasons why this can be done.

Kapil Sibal has raised the NDA policy in 1999 of shifting from fixed license fees to revenue sharing and the consequent loss to the exchequer. He has discovered this rather late and it appears only as a defence of the current 2G scam. It was the Left that had questioned successive scams in Telecom – from Sukhram and his infamous case by case approach to NDA shifting to revenue sharing in 1999 and now the 2G scam. Sibal must realise that earlier scams under the Congress or the NDA cannot be used to justify the current 2G scam.

The Left has not only raised the question of culpability of those whose acts have lead to this huge loss to the exchequer but recovering this loss from those corporate houses who have benefited from Raja's 2G largesse. Mr. Sibal's statement is clearly meant to protect the ill-gotten gains that the corporate houses have made by securing 2G license and spectrum at throw-away prices. This is the reason why Sibal is attacking the CAG report.

It is clear from Sibals' defence that the UPA Government is far more deeply involved than just the lone acts of a Raja. Therefore, it is important that a JPC be constituted to go into all the details of the Telecom scam. With Sibal's statement, this Government has lost all credibility that it can carry out any impartial probe on this issue.

On Aseemananda Case : RSS Hand

The reported statements by Aseemananda, co-accused in a series of bomb blasts by Hindutva terrorist groups shows that it is not just a few extremist individuals involved but a wide network which includes the involvement of top pracharaks of the RSS. Even though the investigations are belated, it is imperative that there should now be no let up in nailing those responsible for the heinous terrorist crimes in Malegaon, Ajmer Sharif, Mecca Masjid and the Samjhauta train blasts. The Hindutva terror groups have been spawned by the hate politics of the RSS and as is now revealed by Aseemananda have received direct support. No effort should be spared to bring the guilty to book. They constitute a grave danger to the integrity and unity of our country.