CPI(M) Karnataka State Conference held at Bangalore on Jan 9,10 and 11. The Conference was inaugurated by Com. Sitaram Yechury. Flag-hoisting was done by Senior comrade K R Sriyan. Conference venue was named after Com. R Umanath and dias named after Com. Savaridas veteran comrade who led communist movement in Kolar Gold fields for decades. Later delegates and Red Volunteers (both men and women in hundreds) marched from Conference venue near to Town Hall to Freedom Park – venue of public meeting.
Com. Sitaram Yechury, Com. M A Baby and Com VJK Nair addressed the gathering. Nine eminent progressive personalities were felicitated. Before the meeting started, overflowing audience consisting of thousands of workers, peasants and party supporters were treated to variety of cultural performances including - 50(to mark party’s golden jubilee) children choir, street play and Dappu folk dance.
Conference was conducted by a Presidium consisting of Com. K R Sriyan, Com. Varalaxmi, Com K Prakash, Com. Siddagangappa. Secretary presented the report and emphasized expanding the movement and taking a leap, by correcting organizational shortcomings. 71 delegates representing over 268 (with 40 women) delegates spoke on report. Conference passed 31 resolutions on issues impacting people in the state. Conference elected a 41-member state committee and 12-delegates for 21st party Congress. Com. G V Sreeramreddy was re-elected as Secretary. Com. K R Sriyan, 81 year-old veteran leader from Dakshina Kannada with distinguished record of over 5 decades to communist movement, desired to be relieved from State Committee and was given a warm farewell.
Several programs for over 3 months before the run-up to conference was the special feature of Karnataka Conference this time. Eight major seminars, a weeklong street-play ‘Nam Kathe’ (our story) jatha with about 25 shows, 5-day cultural programs near conference venue. Central attraction of the cultural programs was a poster exhibition of History of Communist movement in the country and state. Same content was released in book and video forms. Discussion on two films “Bharat Stores’ (on ill-effect of FDI in retail) and “PK’ was held. A poets meet, discussion on ‘education in Mother- tongue’ were also held. Many eminent cultural personalities like Girish Karnad and hundreds of people participated in the programs daily. Another innovative pre-conference propaganda device was 1000 autos fitted with Party flag and Conference Logo & poster, plying throughtout the city.
