CPI(M) leaders in Andhra Pradesh on hungerstrike to press for demands

CPI(M)’s Andhra Pradesh state secretary B V Raghuvulu and three other leaders launched an indefinite fast in Hyderabad from March to press for about 50 demands concerning dalits, tribal community, and farmers.

Mr. Raghavulu, along with party state committee leaders G Nagaiah, S Veeraiah and Midiam Babu Rao, started the fast at Indira Park in Hyderabad. “We have requested the Chief Minister to implement our 50 demands. If there is no positive response from the government, we will intensify our struggle,” Mr. Raghavulu said.

The main demands are introduction of a special scheme for development of dalit and tribal localities, bringing in a special law for implementation of the sub-plan for SC/STs, effective implementation of forest rights act, lifting of cases registered by forest department against tribals, payment of compensation to those affected by Polavaram irrigation project and return of their lands.

The other demands include appointment of members and chairman for SC/ST commission, provision of identity cards for tenant farmers, regulation of micro-finance companies, and PDS ration cards for all eligible applicants.

On Friday 18th MarchTelugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu has expressed solidarity with the leaders of Communist Party of India (Marxist) demanding the government to address various problems of people, including setting up a nodal agency to ensure total utilisation of allotted funds for Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP). Accompanied by several party legislators and leaders, Mr. Naidu visited the agitation camp on Friday and extended TDP's support to the protest taken up by State secretary of CPI (M) B.V. Raghavulu and party leaders M. Babu Rao, S. Veeraiah and G. Nagaiah. Speaking at the fast camp.

CPIM releases candidate list for Kerala polls

CPIM State Secretary Com. Pinarayi Vijayan released the list of CPIM candidates for the coming elections in Kerala at the party state headquarters in Trivandrum. CPIM will be contesting 93 constituencies of the total 140 as part of Left Democratic Front. Party has given 10 seats to women.

The following are the CPI(M) candidates and their constituencies:

C.H. Kunhambu (Manjeswaram), K. Kunhiraman (Uduma), K. Kunhiraman (Thrikkarippur), C. Krishnan (Payyannur), James Mathew (Taliparamba), T.V. Rajesh (Kalliassery), M. Prakasan Master (Azhikode), K.K. Narayanan (Dharmadam), E.P. Jayarajan (Mattannur), K.K. Shylaja (Peravur), Kodiyeri Balakrishnan (Thalassery), K.K. Lathika (Kuttiyadi), K. Kunhammed Master (Perambra), Purushan Kadalundi (Balussery), K. Dasan (Koyilandy), A. Pradeep Kumar (Kozhikode North), C.P. Musafar Ahamed (Kozhikode South), Elamaram Karim (Beypore), George M. Thomas (Thiruvambady) and M. Mehboob (Koduvally).

K. C. Kunhiraman (Mananthavady), E. A. Sankaran (Sulthan Bathery), P. A. Muhammed (Kalpetta), V. Ramesan (Wandoor), P. C. Noushad (Kondotty), V. Sasikumar (Perinthalmanna), Kadeeja Sathar (Mankada), E. Jayan (Tanur), P.P. Abdullakkutty (Tirur), P. Sreeramakrishnan (Ponnani), P. Mammikkutty (Thrithala), A. K. Balan (Tharoor), M. Chandran (Alathur), V. Chenthamarakshan (Nenmara), K. S. Saleekha (Shoranur), M. Hamsa (Ottappalam), K.V. Vijayadas (Kongad), K.K. Divakaran (Palakkad), V.S. Achuthanandan (Malampuzha), Babu M. Palissery (Kunnamkulam), K. Radhakrishnan (Chelakkara), Baby John (Manalur), K.V. Abdul Khader (Guruvayur), C. Ravindranath (Puthukkad), K.R. Vijaya (Irinjalakuda), B.D. Devassy (Chalakudy) and N.R. Balan (Wadakkancherry).

A.M. Yousuf (Aluva), Saju Paul (Perumbavoor), M. A. Surendran (Kunnathunad), S. Sarma (Vypeen), K. Chandran Pillai (Kalamassery), M.C. Josephine (Kochi), M.E. Hassainar (Thrikkakkara), C.M. Dinesh Mani (Thripunithura), M.J. Jacob (Piravom), C.V. Varghese (Idukki), S. Rajendran (Devikulam), K.K. Jayachandran (Udumbanchola), K. Suresh Kurup (Ettumanur), V.N. Vasavan (Kottayam), Suja Susan George (Puthuppally), B. Ekbal (Changanassery), A.M. Arif (Aroor), T.M. Thomas Isaac (Alappuzha), G. Sudhakaran (Ambalappuzha), C.K. Sadasivan (Kayamkulam), C.S. Sujatha (Chengannur), R. Rajesh (Mavelikara), Raju Abraham (Ranni), K.C. Rajagopal (Aranmula), M.S. Rajendran (Konni), Aysha Potty (Kottarakara), K. Rajagopal (Pathanapuram), M.A. Baby (Kundara), P.K. Gurudasan (Kollam), A.A. Rahim (Varkala), B. Sathyan (Attingal), Koliyakkode N. Krishnan Nair (Vamanapuram), Sheela Ramani (Kattakada), C. Ajayakumar (Kazhakuttam), V. Sivan Kutty (Nemom), R. Selvaraj (Neyyattinkara) and Anavoor Nagappan (Parassala).

The party has also announced seven independent candidates: They are: P. T. A. Rahim (Kunnamangalam), Sankaranarayanan (Vallikkunnu), Thomas Mathew (Nilambur), K. T. Jaleel (Thavanur), Sebastian Paul (Ernakulam), Joseph Sebastian (Thodupuzha) and Cherian Philip (Vattiyurkavu).

Announcement of the candidates for Poonjar and Chittor will be made later. CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said there was no reason to doubt whether Mr. Achuthanandan would lead the alliance because he was the unquestioned leader of the party. “There need be no doubt or anxiety on that score. He is our unquestioned leader. Then how can there be a question whether he would be leading the party,” he asked.

The CPI(M) State secretary said the party needed nobody's recommendation to field Mr. Achuthanandan as he was no novice in electoral battles. The party had its procedures to follow and had fielded Mr. Achuthanandan observing all such procedures, he said. The party had also decided to field T.K. Gangadharan in the Mahe constituency of Puducherry.