May 18, 2004
Press
Statement
The
Central
Committee
of
the
Communist
Party
of
India
(Marxist)
met
in
New
Delhi
on
May
16-17,
2004.
It
has
issued
the
following
statement:
Election
Victory
The
Central
Committee
of
the
CPI(M)
hailed
the
verdict
of
the
Indian
people
in
the
14th
Lok
Sabha
elections.
The
BJP
and
its
allies
have
been
decisively
defeated.
The
verdict
of
the
people
is
against
the
communal
platform
assiduously
propagated
by
the
RSS-BJP
combine,
its
brazen
pursuit
of
pro-rich,
pro-big
business
economic
policies
and
its
abject
capitulation
to
the
US
hegemonic
designs.
This
is
a
mandate
given
against
the
naked
policies
of
liberalisation
and
privatization
which
have
harmed
the
livelihood
of
farmers,
the
rural
poor
and
the
common
people.
The
fact
that
the
BJP
alliance
lost
4
per
cent
of
the
vote
as
compared
to
1999
shows
the
extent
of
the
erosion
of
popular
support.
The
defeat
of
the
BJP
is
a
victory
for
the
secular,
democratic
and
Left
forces.
Many
parties
and
forces
have
contributed
to
this
historic
mandate.
The
Central
Committee
congratulates
all
these
parties
and
forces.
The
threat
posed
by
the
BJP
and
the
communal
forces
continues
to
exist,
despite
their
ouster
from
the
Central
government.
All
the
secular
and
democratic
forces
should
remain
vigilant
to
foil
their
designs.
CPI(M)
and
Left
Strengthened
The
Central
Committee
expressed
its
deep
satisfaction
that
the
CPI(M)
and
the
Left
have
emerged
as
a
strengthened
force.
The
Left's
tally
of
seats
is
the
highest
registered
so
far
since
1952.
The
CPI(M)
has
got
the
highest
ever
tally
of
44
seats.
This
is
a
recognition
of
the
firm
and
consistent
role
of
the
CPI(M)
and
the
Left
in
the
fight
against
the
harmful
policies
of
BJP-led
government
and
its
unblemished
record
in
defending
secularism
and
national
unity.
The
Central
Committee
greets
the
people
of
West
Bengal,
Kerala
and
Tripura
who
have
played
a
major
role
in
enhancing
the
strength
and
role
of
the
Left.
Attitude
to
New
Government
The
stage
has
been
set
for
the
formation
of
a
secular
Government
at
the
Centre.
The
CPI(M)
is
of
the
opinion
that
various
parties
who
have
contributed
to
the
defeat
of
the
BJP
should
form
the
government.
The
Congress
party
which
has
the
largest
number
of
seats
is
in
a
position
to
constitute
the
coalition
government
and
lead
it.
The
Central
Committee
of
the
CPI(M)
decided
to
support
such
a
government.
The
CPI(M)
cannot
be
part
of
the
Congress-led
alliance
which
will
form
the
government,
but
it
will,
in
order
to
ensure
a
stable
and
viable
government,
extend
support
to
it
from
outside.
The
CPI(M),
alongwith
the
Left,
while
supporting
the
government
will
also
play
an
independent
role
in
asserting
the
interests
of
the
working
people,
in
protecting
the
secular
edifice
and
opposing
imperialist
penetration
in
our
society.
The
Central
Committee
appreciated
the
concern
of
a
large
number
of
intellectuals,
prominent
personalities
and
Left
sympathisers
that
the
Left
should
play
a
direct
role
in
the
government.
The
Party
assures
them
that
it
will
discharge
its
responsibilities
to
ensure
that
under
a
new
government,
the
democratic
and
secular
forces
are
strengthened
and
will
in
no
way
permit
the
communal
forces
to
stage
a
come
back.
The
Central
Committee
decided
that
the
Polit
Bureau
will
consider
the
draft
proposals
for
a
Common
Minimum
Programme
and
take
whatever
necessary
steps
thereafter.
Policy Direction of Secular Government
The
CPI(M)
and
the
Left
parties
fought
these
elections
on
a
platform
of
isolating
the
communal
forces,
initiating
economic
policies
which
are
in
the
interests
of
all
sections
of
the
working
people
and
an
independent
foreign
policy.
The
people
expect
the
new
government
to
adopt
a
policy
direction
which
comprises:
a)
Steps
to
weed
out
the
communal
penetration
in
the
institutions
of
the
State,
educational,
research
and
cultural
bodies.
Restoring
the
secular
character
of
the
State
and
its
institutions
should
be
a
priority.
b)
An
independent
foreign
policy
which
is
consistent
with
India's
traditions
of
non-alignment.
The
policy
should
promote
multi-polarity
and
good
relations
with
our
neighbours
and
promote
the
dialogue
with
Pakistan.
c)
The
economic
policies
should
be
oriented
towards
providing
relief
to
the
ordinary
people,
generation
of
employment,
giving
priority
to
agriculture
and
for
upliftment
of
the
rural
poor.
The
public
sector
has
to
be
streamlined
but
there
can
be
no
privatisation
of
profitable
public
sector
units.
d)
The
public
distribution
system
has
to
be
revamped,
so
that
the
current
targeted
programme,
which
deprived
large
sections
of
the
people
of
cheap
food,
is
done
away
with.
There
must
be
increased
spending
in
the
social
sector
so
that
education,
health,
welfare
of
scheduled
castes
and
scheduled
tribes
and
women
are
promoted.
The
women's
reservation
bill
must
be
taken
up
for
adoption.
Anti-working
class
legislations
and
POTA
must
be
scrapped.
e) In the sphere of Centre-State relations, sufficient resources have to be provided to the states, lower interest rates and provision of substantial debt relief.