Report on Political Developments-Adopted-Jan2026

Report on Political Developments

(Adopted in the Central Committee meeting held from January 16-18, 2026 in EMS Academy, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala)

The last meeting of the Central Committee was held from September 13 to 15, 2025, and since then we have witnessed several momentous developments at both the national and international levels.

International

The main features of the international developments are:

  1. Imperialist aggression has intensified as can be seen in the attack on Venezuela and the US proposed 20-point peace plan for Gaza, which does not recognise the Palestinian demands;

  2. The right-wing consolidation continues, validating the conclusions arrived at the Party Congress;

  3. The global economy continues to be in crisis with growing inequalities and deprivation;

  4. Protests against imperialism and domestic ruling classes policies are taking place in many countries;

  5. The adverse effects of climate change are felt across the world with unprecedented storms, floods and other natural calamities.

Intensified Imperialist Aggression: Over the past year, the United States has bombed seven countries and together with its allies, has carried out at least 658 air and drone attacks. It continues to support Israel’s aggression against Palestine and has issued threats ranging from the occupation of Greenland to enforcing regime change through military intervention in countries such as Cuba, Mexico and Colombia. All this reflects a renewed imperialist aggression.

The US Congress has also passed a resolution condemning socialism and opposing the implementation of socialist policies in the United States. The timing of this resolution, amid aggression against Venezuela and efforts to contain and isolate China, reflects imperialist fears over the growing search for an alternative and various forms of socialism.

Aggression on Venezuela: United States has launched an unprecedented act of aggression against Venezuela, kidnapping its President, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores. They have been produced before a court in New York and charged with “narco-trafficking,” which is a blatant lie. Donald Trump, the US President, openly declared the real reasons behind the bombing of Venezuela and the kidnapping of Maduro – it is all about oil and the capture of the country’s natural resources. The US National Security Strategy 2025, announced in early December 2025, is a clear expression of the imperial ambitions of the United States.

For the last few months, the United States was building up pressure on Venezuela by launching a series of attacks on boats operating in the Caribbean Sea, accusing them of smuggling drugs to its shores, claims made without the presentation of any credible evidence. More than 30 boats were attacked and 110 people lost their lives in these attacks. The vessels targeted are primarily Venezuelan, with some originating from Colombia.

President Donald Trump has openly declared that he authorised the CIA to conduct operations aimed at removing Maduro and enforcing regime change. More than 20,000 US military personnel were mobilised, supported by naval carrier groups.

The real reasons for targeting Venezuela have little to do with narcotics trafficking or illegal migration. Destabilising Venezuela would pave the way for the US to subjugate Cuba, long regarded as its most coveted prize in the region. Venezuela has also developed close relations with China, Russia, and Iran, all of which the US considers challengers to its hegemony.

The US appears intent on dismantling all Left and progressive governments across Latin America. The recent defeat of a Left candidate in the primary stage of Bolivia’s presidential election has left Venezuela as the region’s sole long-standing Left and progressive government – one that has endured for nearly 27 years. The US has already threatened Cuba, Colombia and Mexico of similar attacks.

Trump has once again announced his intentions of occupying Greenland. All this reflects an aggressive, imperialist United States that seeks to impose its hegemony over the Western Hemisphere, which it considers crucial to retaining its pre-eminent position in the world.

US intervention has not overthrown the Bolivarian government. The government continues with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez being sworn in as the officiating President. All sections of the armed forces also appear to be united behind the government. People mobilised in large numbers and organised demonstrations across Venezuela against US aggression.

The UN Security Council met but failed to condemn the US due to its veto power. Russia, Venezuela, and China unequivocally condemned US actions. Some European allies of the United States found it difficult to openly support the US and instead denounced the aggression and the kidnapping of Maduro. US claims over Greenland have further pushed its allies into a precarious situation.

Across the world, widespread protest demonstrations were organised in solidarity with Venezuela, including in many cities within the US.

The statement issued by the Indian government is a disgrace and highlights the extent to which it has compromised its foreign policy by succumbing to US pressure. Many countries in the Global South, including India’s partners in BRICS, resolutely condemned the US aggression.

US Intervention to Strengthen Right-Wing Forces: The US has brazenly intervened in the internal affairs of various countries in Latin America to ensure that the right-wing parties win the elections.

Argentina: Argentinian far-right president Javier Milei’s coalition, La Libertad Avanza achieved a significant political victory in the 2025 midterm elections in Argentina. This was achieved due to the successful orchestration of a political project by international finance capital and US imperialism. The Trump administration explicitly linked a massive $40 billion financial package to Milei’s electoral success. It is a clear political bailout for Milei.

Honduras: The US also intervened in the elections in Honduras and threatened the country of cutting down on all aid if they do not elect a right-wing candidate backed by Trump. In a tightly contested election, Nasry ‘Tito’ Asfura, supported by Trump was declared elected as President by a small margin of 515 votes. These results are contested by the other two candidates, who allege US coercion on election commission to declare results in favour of the right-wing candidate Asfura.

Right-Wing Ascendancy in Latin America

In Chile, Jose Antonio Kast was elected as the President defeating the joint candidate of the Left, Jeanette Jara, who is a member of the Communist Party of Chile. This is the biggest shift to the right since the end of Chile’s military dictatorship in 1990. Kast openly praises the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet and is a close ally of Donald Trump. He ran his campaign primarily against immigration and deteriorating law and order situation.

Recent years witnessed the ascendancy of right-wing parties in Latin America. The Left and progressive governments that were governing many countries have lost in elections. Bolivia, Chile, Honduras, Argentina, El Salvador, etc., are now governed by the right-wing parties. This political shift has further emboldened the US to act aggressively in the region.

US National Security Strategy 2025: The US announced its National Security Strategy 2025 (NSS) in early December. The primary objective of the NSS is to establish imperialist hegemony and overlordship on the entire world. The primary beneficiary will be the US military-industrial complex. The rise of China and its emergence as a rallying point for countries dissatisfied with imperialism, deeply unsettles the US. The NSS represents an attempt to address the challenge to preserve US hegemony. The NSS declares that it will implement a ‘Trump corollary’ (extension) of the Monroe Doctrine across Latin America. The US declares through the NSS that it would make it harder for non-hemispheric competitors (like China and Russia) to increase their influence in the region.

The NSS vows to uphold the ‘America First’ policy, which in reality means curbing dissenting voices and alternative models. The aggression on Venezuela demonstrates how the US intends to implement its NSS, which will strangulate nations sovereignty and promote global tensions.

Ceasefire and Gaza Peace Plan: Israel continues to pursue its aggressive policies in Gaza and the West Bank. The announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza was expected to bring some relief to the long-suffering people of the region. However, since the announcement of the ceasefire, Israel has carried out nearly 600 attacks, killing more than 430 Palestinians. Over 1,500 people have been injured, and an additional 680 bodies have been recovered. The death toll resulting from two years of Israeli aggression continues to rise and has crossed 71,000. Much of the territory has been reduced to rubble.

Israel effectively controls approximately 41 per cent of the West Bank and more than half of Gaza. The blockade imposed since March, responsible for widespread famine and starvation, has officially been lifted. Still, there remains a severe shortage of food, fuel, and other essential supplies. Israel is not allowing essential medicines or even baby food to enter Gaza. Instead, it has permitted commercial agencies to sell luxury items, fully aware that the population cannot afford them. This is yet another manifestation of the inhuman nature of Zionist aggression.

The US-brokered 20-point peace plan presents a blueprint for restructuring Gaza under direct imperialist oversight. According to its proposals, Hamas must disarm and be permanently excluded from governance. An International Stabilisation Force (ISF) will be deployed in Gaza to enforce demilitarisation. Until then, Israel will be permitted to maintain its current presence within Gaza’s geographical boundaries.

The plan bypasses all legitimate Palestinian political structures in favour of an internationally supervised technocratic administration. The proposed Board of Peace, to be led by Donald Trump and Tony Blair (architect of the Iraq War), will oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, which is not to rebuild Gaza, but only to exploit the destruction for profit. Notably, the plan remains vague on ending the occupation of Palestinian territories.

The involvement of countries such as the UAE, Egypt and Pakistan seems intended to lend a veneer of legitimacy to a US-Israeli imperialist project. The betrayal of the Palestinian cause by major Arab powers – Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan – has been one of the greatest tragedies for the Palestinian people. These States have chosen the path of compromise with Israel and have effectively abandoned Palestinians.

The UN once again failed, when it accepted the 20-point peace plan proposed by the US. In the UN Security Council, 13 countries voted for the plan, with only China and Russia abstaining.

Unrest in Iran: Protests once again erupted against the government, with economic hardships caused by US-imposed sanctions acting as a major catalyst. Prices of essential commodities, including food and fuel, rose exponentially, forcing people to take to the streets. The Iranian government unleashed extreme brutality against the protesters, and more than 5,000 people were reportedly killed in police firing.

The United States sought to exploit the unrest to destabilise the country and enforce regime change. It has been backing the exiled former prince, whose family was overthrown during the Iranian Revolution, in an attempt to facilitate his return and install him as the country’s leader. The CIA and the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, were actively involved in exploiting this discontent to weaken Iran, which remains the only major country continuing to oppose both the US and Israel.

A weakened Iran would ensure total US control over West Asia. However, fears of the repercussions such an intervention would unleash, forced US allies to plead against it. Nevertheless, the threat persists. We stand with the people of Iran who are protesting against their economic hardships and also resisting imperialist intervention.

Ukraine: US hopes of facilitating a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia have not materialised. A dominant section of the US political establishment is not prepared for a ceasefire. European countries such as the UK, France, and Germany are also unwilling to end the war with Russia, due to their antipathy towards Russia. They claim doing so would amount to acknowledging the weakness of NATO and the West. The United States is reluctant to supply weapons directly to Ukraine and instead wants European countries to provide arms and ammunition by purchasing them from the US.

Russia is demanding a firm commitment that Ukraine will not join NATO and will not allow the stationing of foreign troops on its territory. However, the UK and France have announced their willingness to deploy troops in Ukraine as a guarantee against future attacks. Russia also insists that territories with a majority Russian-speaking population should not remain part of Ukraine. These hardened positions on all sides have made it difficult to resolve the conflict and bring an end to the nearly four-year-long war.

As concluded at the 24th Congress, Ukraine, tariffs, and commitments to climate change are among the key areas where the US and its European allies differ. Aggressive actions by the US, along with its repeated statements that it would do whatever it takes to occupy Greenland, are causing unease among the EU leaders. Despite all this, they are unable to take a firm position against the United States and assert themselves. This shows the extent of the dominance the US is exerting even over its allies and how supine the European Union has become.

US Attack on Nigeria: The US carried out military strikes in Nigeria under the guise of eliminating Islamic terrorist groups. More than 70 strikes were conducted, with the claim that they were intended to protect Christians in Nigeria. The US has designated Nigeria as a country of ‘particular concern’ and is threatening it with further attacks.

The real intention is to regain its lost foothold in the Sahel region, from which several countries have forced French and US forces to withdraw.

US-China Talks: The US-China trade talks held in November represent a tactical de-escalation of the tariff and export-control confrontation that dominated 2025. The deal constitutes merely a temporary thaw that eases immediate economic uncertainty, rather than a genuine strategic resolution.

China’s dominance across critical nodes of global supply chains – from rare earth minerals and battery components to essential manufacturing inputs – gives it enduring leverage that the US cannot easily replicate. By permitting limited exports under controlled licensing and pricing mechanisms, China ensures that US and allied manufacturers remain dependent on Chinese capacity in key areas such as rare earth processing, battery materials, and mid-tier semiconductor fabrication. These renewed trade flows, in effect, reinforce China’s central role in global technology supply chains.

Moreover, China’s control over market access for US firms in sectors such as electric vehicles, financial services, and agriculture provides a powerful bargaining tool that far outweighs the temporary pressure of American sanctions. The concessions offered by the US, such as tariff suspensions and limited export licence approvals, reflect not constraint on China’s part, but rather China’s confidence in its ability to reassert structural influence through its dominance in production and market power.

ASEAN Summit: The 2025 ASEAN Summit, held in Malaysia, took place at a critical juncture in the ongoing rivalry between the US and China. The summit was marked by a significant strengthening of China-ASEAN relations. China views the ASEAN-China partnership as a model of regional cooperation.

In contrast, the US’ renewed engagement with ASEAN is driven by strategic calculations aimed at forming a pro-US bloc in the region. The active participation of President Donald Trump signified a concerted American effort to draw ASEAN into its strategic orbit as part of a broader attempt to contain China. US’ intention to deepen military and security cooperation with ASEAN would heighten the risk of regional militarisation. Furthermore, the US seeks to exploit existing tensions between China and several ASEAN member states in the South China Sea to advance its own strategic interests.

US Trade Deals with Japan and South Korea: The United States signed trade agreements with both Japan and South Korea during President Trump’s visit to Asia. The trade agreements with Japan and South Korea – both key US allies – reflect the systematic subordination of developed yet dependent capitalist economies to the economic and strategic demands of the United States. These deals inevitably exert downward pressure on workers’ wages and increase job insecurity in sectors exposed to US competition. They also exemplify how the United States uses tariffs as a weapon to coerce countries into investing in the American economy. Ultimately, these trade agreements are designed not only to secure economic advantages for the United States but also to bind Japan and South Korea more firmly to its regional strategy of containing China and to serve the interests of US imperialism.

Global Economy: In its World Economic Outlook Report (October 2025), the IMF states that global growth is projected to slow from 3.3 per cent in 2024 to 3.2 per cent in 2025, and further to 3.1 per cent in 2026. On an end-of-year basis, global growth is expected to decelerate from 3.6 per cent in 2024 to 2.6 per cent in 2025.

Advanced economies are forecast to grow by around 1.5 per cent in 2025-26, with the United States slowing to 2.0 per cent. Emerging market and developing economies are projected to moderate to just above 4.0 per cent. The impact of tariffs is being felt across all major economies, including the US itself. The effective US tariff rate remains elevated at about 19 per cent, and persistent trade tensions continue to cast a shadow over the global economy, with trade policy uncertainty staying high. These tensions are likely to intensify over time as firms gradually pass higher costs from tariffs on to consumers.

The rise in inflation in the US is hitting the working class and ordinary citizens particularly hard. Job creation has stagnated, leading to an increase in unemployment. Meanwhile, the current boom in AI-related investments is drawing comparisons to the dot-com bubble of 1999.

Widening Inequalities: According to The World Inequality Report 2026, the global financial system is reinforcing inequality. Each year, around 1 per cent of global GDP flows from poorer to richer nations through net foreign income transfers.

The facts in the Report show that the top 10 per cent of the global population’s income-earners earn more than the remaining 90 per cent, while the poorest half of the global population earns less than 10 per cent of the total global income. Wealth inequalities are even worse. The top 0.001 per cent of global population (less than 60,000 multi-millionaires) owns more wealth today than the entire bottom half. Their share has been steadily increasing since 1995. The global top 10 per cent own three quarters of all wealth while the bottom half owns just 2 per cent.

Gender discrimination also leads to widening inequalities. Women work more hours than men, on average 53 hours per week compared to 43 for men, once domestic and care work is taken into account. However, their work is consistently valued less. Excluding unpaid work, women earn only 61 per cent of men’s hourly income; when unpaid labour is included, this figure falls to just 32 per cent.

Developed capitalist countries use their financial dominance to deepen global inequality. As issuers of major reserve currencies, they can borrow at low costs and lend at higher rates, attracting global savings. Developing countries, by contrast, are forced into expensive debt and low-yield asset traps, resulting in a continuous outflow of income. This fundamental asymmetry significantly widens the economic divide between rich and poor countries.

Unemployment and Layoffs: Job layoffs have increased across many sectors, particularly in the IT industry, largely due to the introduction of artificial intelligence, thereby adding to unemployment. Data show that in the IT sector, the average number of layoffs per company rose sharply from 221 in 2023 to 517 in 2025. As firms pursue AI-driven efficiency gains, layoffs have been distributed across several sectors: hardware accounts for 31.28 per cent, retail 13.31 per cent, consumer services 7.97 per cent, sales 4.79 per cent, human resources 3.50 per cent, transport 3.37 per cent, energy 3.15 per cent, finance 2.94 per cent, and other sectors 18.69 per cent.

Modern advances in science and technology are not being used for the benefit of society as a whole, but are instead being deployed primarily to serve the interests of private corporations.

Rising debt levels in many countries, increasing defence expenditures, growing unemployment, inequalities and declining international aid are fuelling discontent across the globe. This volatile social and economic environment provides fertile ground for the growth of far-right forces, especially if Communist and Left movements fail to channel this discontent in a correct direction.

Developments in Nepal: A major development in Nepal is the merger of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre) led by Prachanda and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) led by Madhav Nepal and some other smaller communist parties and groups. The newly formed party – Communist Party of Nepal – declared that within six months it would come out with a Party Programme and plan of action.

The Communist Parties in Nepal feel that the US was actively involved in destabilising the government and behind the GenZ protests. The opportunistic alliances entered by the various communist parties and their failure to address pressing issues like land reforms, joblessness had contributed to widespread unrest and was one of the reasons behind the GenZ protests. The interim government announced that it would conduct elections to the parliament within six months. It started a consultation process with all the political parties. Hindutva and pro-monarchy forces are actively campaigning against the secular, republican constitution and are gaining in strength.

CPN-UML has been holding nationwide demonstrations demanding the reinstatement of the House of Representatives, dissolved on 12 September after the GenZ movement toppled the KP Oli government. In November, a section of the GenZ protesters had clashed with the CPN-UML cadre, demonstrating the simmering tensions before the elections are held.

Bangladesh Violence: Elections in Bangladesh are scheduled for February 2026. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Khaleda Zia, who passed away recently, appears to be rallying large sections of the population. Religious fundamentalist forces led by Jamaat-e-Islami are gaining in strength by spreading communal venom. Efforts are underway to strengthen military and security relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan. The killing of a student leader has ignited social tensions and led to increased attacks on religious minorities, in which at least four Hindu youths were killed. Various media organisations and reputed cultural institutions are also targeted and attacked. These developments have a debilitating impact not only on Bangladesh but on the entire region. Communal forces on both sides of the border are trying to exploit the situation to further incite hatred by feeding off each other. Maintaining social harmony and democracy is the need of the hour. A section of the people and Left parties are protesting these attacks on minorities and democratic rights.

Forces of Resistance: In 2025, 126 significant anti-government protests took place across 67 countries. The working class led many of these protests, opposing austerity measures, labour law reforms, pension reforms, and prevailing economic policies.

In France, more than 5,00,000 people participated in protests against government policies in September 2025. In Belgium, workers organised a massive general strike against austerity measures in October, while protests were held in Romania in November. Large-scale working-class protests against labour law reforms occurred in Greece in October and in Portugal in November. In Bulgaria, workers demonstrated against budgetary proposals that were contrary to their interests in November.

Protests against corruption, widening inequalities, and neoliberal austerity, as well as demands for access to healthcare and improved living standards, erupted in many countries. Indonesia, Nepal, Madagascar, Morocco, and Peru witnessed intense protests led primarily by students and youth from GenZ.

Governments in several of these countries attempted to suppress the protests through the use of force, resulting in the deaths of many young people and the injury and arrest of many others.

These protests significantly influenced the political situations in their respective countries. In Nepal, the government was forced to resign; in Madagascar, the unrest was exploited to stage a military coup; and in Morocco, protesters were able to secure certain concessions.

However, the limitations of these movements were also evident. Many protests lacked organisational structure. In addition, protesters in many cases did not clearly identify the root causes of their grievances or directly challenge the inequities of the capitalist system.

Election of Progressives: There are some rays of hope amidst the gloom. In Ireland, Left-wing independent candidate Catherine Connolly won the presidential election, securing 63 per cent of the vote and defeating her centre-right rival. Her campaign was particularly popular among young people, who supported her strong pro-Palestine stance and her commitment to social justice, among other issues.

In the United States, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) won elections to city councils in several cities across the country. The highlight of these electoral victories was the election of Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of New York City. According to surveys, a significant section of the US population is no longer averse to the word ‘socialism’. There are over 250 DSA members elected to various public offices in the United States, of whom 90 per cent were elected after 2019.

Natural Disasters: Since September, several countries in South and South-East Asia have been severely affected by storms, cyclones, and floods. More than 1,000 people lost their lives, and thousands more were reported missing as a result of these natural disasters. Vast areas of crops and large amounts of property were destroyed. Countries such as Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand were among the worst affected.

Sri Lanka suffered some of the worst damage from a cyclone that made landfall on the island. Nearly 700 people lost their lives, and about 1,07,000 houses were damaged. Thousands of hectares of crops were destroyed and the total economic cost of the devastation is estimated at around $5 billion, or nearly 4 per cent of the country’s GDP.

In countries like the Philippines, large-scale public protests erupted against the government’s failure to provide adequate relief and assistance to those affected by the cyclones.

In late October, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Atlantic struck Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas, and Bermuda.

Experts and international bodies explicitly linked the exceptional intensity of these disasters to the climate crisis, identifying it as a clear example of how climate change is altering storm patterns and intensifying extreme weather events. Unbridled exploitation of nature driven by capitalist greed has resulted in large-scale deforestation and poor land management, which in turn have contributed to landslides in many mountainous regions.

UN Climate Change Conference, Belem: The COP30 Summit was held in November in Belém, Brazil. The United States refused to participate in the summit. COP30 was labeled the “implementation COP,” reflecting the belief that greater emphasis was needed on implementation and delivery, which have lagged far behind commitments. The UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Emissions Gap Report (EGR) stated that global temperatures over the past three years have set new records. Temperatures exceeded 1.5°C in the past two years, while atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) levels rose by 2.3 per cent in 2024 compared to 1.6 per cent the previous year – four times the average growth rate over the previous decade. For the first time in a COP decision, the likelihood of overshooting 1.5°C and the need to limit both the magnitude and duration of such an overshoot, was formally acknowledged.

Developing countries called for the tripling of financial support to meet climate adaptation targets. Many developed countries are failing to provide the financial assistance they have committed to supporting developing countries in achieving these goals. Deep divisions over finance, trade measures, mitigation pathways, and other issues stalled progress on key decisions.

The United States withdrew from 66 international treaties and forums, most of which are related to climate change and environmental protection. The Trump administration, along with several other far-right governments, has expressed skepticism about climate change and has therefore shown little commitment to reorienting policies toward environmental protection and climate action.

National Developments

The major trends of the national developments vindicate the conclusions we have arrived at in the 24th Congress of the Party. They are:

  1. The BJP-led Union Government is moving aggressively in the implementation of neoliberal, pro-corporate economic policies;

  2. The attack on minorities continue to rise; this period witnessed attacks on Christians in many regions; in many BJP ruled states Muslims are targeted by branding them as Bangladeshi infiltrators;

  3. The capture of State institutions like the ECI and other Constitutional bodies by the ruling party, is used to promote their agenda;

  4. The fusion of intensified attacks on democratic rights and minorities, the aggressive implementation of neoliberal policies, and the compromising of State institutions is reflected in the deepening authoritarian character of the present government;

  5. The Union Government continues to tamper with economic data to falsely claim that the country is on the path of growth, while the contrary is true;

  6. Vindicating the pro-imperialist character of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar, the government has stripped the country’s foreign policy of its independent positions.

  7. Resistance against government attacks is steadily increasing.

Parliament Session: The BJP-led Union Government used the winter session of Parliament to push through several key Bills detrimental to the people’s interests, without allowing proper discussion. Eight Bills were passed by both Houses of Parliament, and two were referred to joint committee of the two Houses. The BJP has been curtailing the number of days Parliament remains in session, and even during these limited sittings, issues affecting the people are often not taken up for discussion. The major opposition party, the Congress, cannot escape responsibility for failing to ensure that the session addressed important issues.

The BJP is deliberately weakening the functioning of Parliament and thereby refusing to subject the executive to legislative scrutiny, a vital component of parliamentary democracy. These actions undermine the democratic structure of the country and strengthen the authoritarian character.

Notification of Labour Codes: The BJP government has notified the implementation of four labour codes in November. Government’s claim that the Labour Codes will boost employment and investment is completely baseless. The Codes are designed to leave labour unprotected in the face of the onslaught of capital. Their aim is to lure national and international capital by ensuring that all meaningful regulations covering various aspects of labour rights will be nullified. Further, they seek to snatch away the right to strike and criminalise any collective action by the working class. The Labour Codes seek to empower the capitalist ruling classes to bulldoze the rights and entitlements of workers with the government’s legal approval. The working class reacted immediately against these changes and organised countrywide protests.

Following the notification of the Labour Codes on 21 November 2025, spontaneous demonstrations and the burning of copies of the Labour Codes took place at numerous workplaces and locations across the country. Joint protests were organised by workers’, farmers’, and agricultural workers’ organisations.

The LDF government in Kerala has once again stood firmly with workers by rejecting the notification of the Labour Codes imposed by the BJP-led Union government.

Shram Shakti Niti: The main objective of the Shram Shakthi Niti 2025 released by the Ministry of Labour and Employment is the systematic dismantling of worker protections, enforcement apparatus and collective bargaining rights. The policy serves as an implementation vehicle for the anti-worker Labour Codes of 2019-2020, accelerating the informalisation and precaritisation of work. It repositions the Ministry only as an employment facilitator, abdicating its custodian role as an enforcement authority, ensuring compliance through inspections, and regulation in line with the provisions of labour codes. The tripartite mechanism of Indian Labour Conference (ILC) not held since 2015 is sought to be abandoned through Annual Convergence Forum only to review the implementation of policy. It claims to draw inspiration from ‘dharma shastras’ and is a direct onslaught on the democratic, secular, republican Constitution. It proposes national labour and employment policy evaluation index (LPEI) to bench mark through indexation and ranking of states undertaking labour laws deregulation for ease of compliance and ease of doing business, undermining state’s right and federalism. The policy actively undermines the federal structure by using financial incentives to coerce states into implementing the central government’s pro-corporate labour codes. This centralisation is crucial for national capital and its international partners, as it creates a uniform, deregulated national market for labour, preventing progressive states from upholding stronger worker protections.

Dismantling the MNREGA: MGNREGA is a universal, demand-driven law that provides a limited right to work. The new Act changes this character and denies people even this limited right. It legally absolves the Union Government of its responsibility to allocate funds in accordance with demand. The Act excludes large sections of rural households in the name of rationalising job cards. The suspension of employment for up to 60 days during peak agricultural seasons will deny work when it is most needed by rural workers and make them dependent on landlords. Mandatory digital attendance causes immense difficulties for workers, including loss of work and denial of their rights. By proposing a change in the funding pattern, the Centre shifts its responsibility onto the states. This places an unsustainable financial burden on state governments while denying them any role in the decision-making process. The states are also expected to bear the expenditure on unemployment allowance and delay compensation. All these changes are intended to curtail the reach of the scheme and dilute the Union Government’s accountability. The change in the scheme’s name from MGNREGA to GRAM-G reflects the BJP/RSS’s hostility towards Gandhi and also their intent to communalise everything.

The Party needs to take up an intensive campaign on this issue and mobilise people against the new Act. Protests were conducted immediately in many centres across the country at the initiative of the Party and the agricultural workers, kisan and women’s front.

Electricity Amendment Bill 2025: The efforts to privatise the power sector was pushed aggressively by the new bill in the winter session of the Parliament. The Bill allows private firms to retail power, privatising state distribution companies (DISCOM’s). It empowers electricity regulatory commissions to determine tariffs sou motto without any application for tariff revision by the companies. It exempts manufacturing enterprises, railways and metro rail from cross subsidy obligations within 5 years. It allows multiple distribution licensees in the same area using the same public network enabling the private players to target the consumers. It allows for creation of Central electricity Council, which shall be used to bulldoze the state’s rights. It provides unlimited powers to Union government like that of powers to remove State Electricity Regulatory Commission members. It aims to dismantle the public character of power sector and recast it as a fully financialised, profit-driven market.

The new Bill will result in a massive tariff shock for agricultural and domestic consumers, cripple state Discoms by allowing corporate ‘cherry-picking’ of profitable clients, and also surrender national energy sovereignty to private monopolies. It is a direct assault on federalism, the right to livelihood, and the concept of electricity as a public good. The push for ‘cost-reflective tariffs’ makes the working class, peasantry, and urban poor bear the entire burden of the power sector’s costs. These costs include the profits of private generators and distributors. It is nothing but a direct transfer of income from the masses to the capitalists. It should be opposed by uniting all sections of the society.

The Left Parties, Central Trade Unions (CTUs) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) reacted immediately against these proposed changes and organised protest demonstrations in various places.

Higher Education Commission of India Bill: The Union cabinet approved the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, which was introduced in the winter session of the Parliament. Through this Bill, the Union government proposes to overhaul the regulatory framework of higher education by establishing a 12-member Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA). This is an umbrella commission, under which separate regulatory (viniyaman), accreditation (gunvatta), and standards (manak) councils will operate. The law is proposed to be applicable to all Central and State universities, colleges, and higher education institutions, including those for technical education, teacher education, architects’ education, institutions of national importance, and institutes of eminence. Through this Bill, the government intends to further centralise the entire education system. The Central government has the power to appoint its nominees in the proposed Board, which has the power to control all the higher education institutions in the country. The state governments will not be having any role in running these institutions.

Amendments to Forest Conservation Rules: The central government has amended forest conservation rules to allow private entities to undertake commercial plantations in forest areas without paying long-standing environmental levies. These changes give a new definition of forests by categorising private plantations too as forests. This is a significant shift from previous rules, under which commercial plantations on forest land were often considered “non-forestry activities” requiring separate clearances and environmental levies like Net Present Value (NPV) and compensatory afforestation. This change will weaken forest protection and normalise commercial use of forest land by private interests without sufficient ecological safeguards. Moreover, plantation monocultures are not ecologically equivalent to natural forests, lacking biodiversity and structural complexity.

This amendment reveals the government’s utter lack of concern for environmental protection. It is yet another measure aimed at weakening regulations that safeguard forests. It also facilitates the commercial exploitation of forests by large private corporations. This follows the same pattern as the existing practice of leasing forest land to private industrial houses such as Adani and Vedanta for mineral extraction. The government’s duplicity – denying Adivasis their rights over forests while handing these same forests over to private corporations – must be exposed.

Economy: The IMF estimates that the Indian economy will grow at 6.6 per cent in 2025-26. However, it has simultaneously expressed reservations about the government’s official economic data, citing weaknesses and a lack of confidence in the numbers. This fundamental doubt suggests that the BJP government may be manipulating figures to manufacture a facade of growth, while the real economy remains in crisis. For record, the government stated that the economy is growing at 8.2 per cent.

The Indian private sector’s call for increased government spending reflects the economy’s underlying weaknesses. Despite companies holding record cash reserves of Rs. 10.35 trillion (financial year 2025) – more than double the 2019 figure – companies are not investing in new projects because of subdued demand. This reluctance stems from weakening domestic consumption, persistent inflation, and global trade uncertainties. Consequently, the private sector is urging the government to boost infrastructure spending, offer tax incentives, and implement pro-business reforms and stimulate demand. In response, the government has immediately notified the four new Labour Codes and implemented GST reforms.

The analysis of official data released by RBI shows that the net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India fell by 159 per cent in August 2025, with more money leaving the country than entering. And for the second time the outflows have exceeded inflows in this financial year in-spite of all policies of ‘ease of doing business’.

The rupee has been steadily falling all through the last year. It has fallen to new low by breaching the Rs. 90 mark and became the weakest currency in Asia. The flawed economic policies and priorities of the government, together with the trade uncertainties are responsible for the depreciating value of the rupee. As a result, the working class, farmers and owners of Small and Medium Enterprises are adversely affected as the cost of living and inequalities are rising.

Labour Bureau data for manufacturing sector reveal that the decadal growth rate of persons engaged in manufacturing sector which was 7.41 per cent between 2004-05 and 2013-14 has declined to 5.92 per cent between 2014-15 and 2023-24. The average real wage growth rate has declined to 4.8 per cent from 6.7 per cent and the inflation growth rate has increased to 5.2 per cent from 3.8 per cent.

All of this indicates that without efforts to increase the people’s purchasing power, the economy cannot show even minimal signs of revival. The ruling classes’ refusal to take this basic step, much less confront capitalism’s systemic flaws, underscores the severity of the crisis confronting them.

Inequalities: Income and wealth inequalities in India continue to be among the highest in the world. According to the World Inequality Report 2026, inequality in India remains deeply entrenched across income, wealth and gender dimensions. The top 10 per cent people in our country earn 58 per cent of national income, their share increasing from 57 per cent in 2022, while the bottom 50 per cent receives only 15 per cent. Wealth inequality is even higher. The top 1 per cent in India holds 40 per cent of wealth and the top 10 per cent holds 65 per cent of total wealth in the country. Female labour participation remains very low at 15.7 per cent showing no improvement in the last decade.

Data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) shows that the profits earned by Indian corporations relative to capital employed is at a 14-year high. In September 2025, the Profit After Tax (PAT), relative to the capital employed of the corporations was 10.47 per cent, which is at its highest since March 2010. The reason for the rise in profits is due to greater extraction and concentration of surplus value, which is supported by State policies. This data once again demonstrates the extent to which the BJP-led government is formulating policies to benefit monopolies.

All these data indicate that our economy is not in a good shape, contrary to the claims made by the Union government. Unemployment, lack of job opportunities, wage stagnation are all contributing to resentment among the people. Instead of addressing the structural issues confronting the economy, the government is trying to tide over the crisis by opening the economy to foreign capital by signing FTAs with the US and EU and also by offering some temporary monetary incentives.

Opening up the Economy: The Union government passed Bills in the winter session of the Parliament allowing 100 per cent FDI in insurance and permitting the entry of private and foreign corporations into nuclear power generation. Opening up a strategic and crucial sector like nuclear energy to private companies will be disastrous. The amendments give private nuclear companies a free hand in deciding the tariffs for electricity produced by them.

The new act, termed Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI), is dangerous as it dilutes the compensation to be given to people affected by a nuclear accident. The government has succumbed to US pressure and amended the Act to absolve the manufacturer of the liability for accidents and other untoward incidents. This amounts to a double bonanza – they will neither be held liable for accidents nor be subject to regulatory oversight in determining tariffs. This is yet another example of the pro-corporate policies of the BJP-led NDA government.

Allowing 100 per cent FDI in the insurance sector will destabilise the domestic insurance industry. It will jeopardise policyholders’ privacy and financial security. The commercial priorities of foreign investors will override public welfare objectives. This will undermine financial stability and social security. This move also opens the door to predatory takeovers, resulting in a loss of control over vital national resources.

The BJP-led Union government has announced a three-year Public–Private Partnership (PPP) Project Pipeline worth Rs. 17 trillion. It comprises 852 projects, of which 232 are related to central ministries and departments, valued at Rs. 13.15 trillion. The remaining 620 projects belong to various state governments and Union Territories and are valued at Rs 3.85 trillion. Highways, power, and railways account for the largest number of projects and the highest investment.

This effectively means that many more sectors will be opened to private capital, while the public sector will be confined largely to a facilitating role in private profit-making.

Monopoly in Aviation: The sudden cancellation of Indigo flights across the country created an unprecedented crisis in the aviation sector. This is a result of structural factors relating to the emergence of a virtual monopoly/duopoly in India’s air transport sector. The abrupt disruption of Indigo flights created conditions for other airlines to make huge windfall profits, making air travel itself unviable, even for medical emergencies.

This crisis is a natural consequence of the structural deficiency that has been created in the air transport sector over the years. It also signals a forewarning for other infrastructure sectors where similar monopolies and duopolies have emerged with charges of cronyism flying thick and fast. Incidentally, allegations of Indigo contributing towards the BJP through the electoral bonds have also surfaced.

Impact of US Tariffs: As a result of the US imposed tariffs on India, between May and September 2025, exports plunged by 37.5 per cent – from $8.8 billion to $5.5 billion – one of the sharpest short-term collapses in years. Smartphones and pharmaceuticals were the biggest casualties. Smartphone exports crashed 58 per cent from $2.29 billion in May to $884.6 million in September. Pharmaceutical product exports slipped 15.7 per cent, from $745.6 million to $628.3 million. The labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery, chemicals, agri-foods, and machinery account for nearly 60 per cent of India’s US exports and suffered a 33 per cent decline, from $4.8 billion in May to $3.2 billion in September. Without urgent intervention from the government, India risks losing market share in sectors where it previously held a strong position. Tariffs have not only squeezed India’s trade margins but also exposed structural vulnerabilities across key export industries.

Succumbing to US pressure, the Indian government has issued directions to reduce the purchase of oil from Russia. While crude oil imports from Russia declined by 38 per cent in December compared to November, reaching a three-year low, oil imports from the US increased by 80 per cent over the past year.

Now the US President is threatening India with the imposition of 500 per cent tariffs if it does not immediately stop purchasing oil from Russia.

US-India Major Defence Partnership: The India-US 10-Year Defence Cooperation Framework, signed in October, takes forward the strategic integration of India with US imperialist objectives. The pact aims for deepened cooperation across all domains: land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace, moving beyond mere arms sales to full-spectrum military interoperability. Its provisions for enhanced interoperability, co-development of technology, and intelligence sharing fundamentally compromise India’s strategic autonomy, binding its military and foreign policy to the dictates of US capital and its hegemonic project in Asia. The framework deepens technological dependency and subordinates India’s defence industrial base to the interests of US monopolies, while increasing the risk of regional confrontation. It is explicit in the agreement that its purpose is to contain China and formally bind India within a US-led military architecture.

India-US Trade Deal: The US is pressurising the Indian government to sign a trade deal agreement that grants extensive market access to US products across sectors. The US wants India to remove tariffs on most industrial goods, opening of the farm and dairy sectors, including access for genetically modified corn and soybeans, unrestricted cross-border data flows, relaxed e-commerce and intellectual property (IP) rules and larger commitments to buy US oil, LNG, and defense equipment. Reports indicate that the government is succumbing to the US pressure and is about to sign a deal that will be detrimental to our interests. We must mobilise farmers, agricultural workers and working people against the Indian government’s surrender to the US.

A high-level delegation from the European Union (EU) visited New Delhi from November 3 to 7, 2025, to advance negotiations on the proposed India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls: The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, targeting twelve states including Kerala, Tamilnadu, and West Bengal, is a calculated political project by the BJP-RSS combine, operationalised through a pliant Election Commission of India (ECI). This is intended to systematically disenfranchise millions of voters from marginalised communities and opposition-leaning constituencies. Modeled on the controversial Bihar process, the SIR deliberately employs onerous documentation requirements and an archaic 2002 baseline to effectively function as a backdoor National Register of Citizens (NRC). Its primary objective is to alter the electoral demography to favour the ruling party and undermine the very foundations of universal adult suffrage, representing the most significant assault on electoral democracy.

The SIR’s reliance on the Last Intensive Revision (LIR) voter lists from 2002-2005, rather than the current, continuously updated rolls places every voter who enrolled after this period under a cloud of suspicion and subjects them to a fresh, rigorous citizenship test. It shifts the constitutional responsibility of voter enrollment from the ECI onto the individual citizen. This violates the principle of universal adult suffrage under Article 326 by transforming a right into a privilege that must be claimed through bureaucratic hurdles. The process mandates documents like birth certificates or proof of parental presence in the 2002 list and rejects commonly held proofs like the Voter ID card issued by the ECI itself, ration cards, and PAN cards. This creates an insurmountable barrier for the poor, migrant workers, Adivasis, Dalits, and women, who are less likely to possess formal documentation. The LDF government in Kerala voiced its opposition to the process, while the Tamilnadu government approached the Supreme Court against it.

With the first set of Draft Electoral Rolls (DER) now made public, more than eight crore voters have been struck off the rolls. The Election Commission has now formally sought authority over the determination of citizenship in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, in gross violation of constitutional principles. With the application of AI tools in complete disarray, the right to vote faces the threat of removal through arbitrary and partisan actions.

The Party has to campaign extensively against the ECI’s attempt to usurp the right to determine citizenship and simultaneously ensure that no eligible voter is removed from the voter’s list. Similarly, we should be vigilant and ensure that bogus voters are not enrolled in the voters’ list through the connivance of the BJP and the EC machinery.

Bihar Elections: The NDA government was re-elected in Bihar with a thumping majority after the legislative assembly elections. The Mahagatbandhan, formed by opposition parties failed to put up a strong fight and effectively counter the communal, divisive campaign of the BJP. The failure to conduct joint struggles against the anti-people policies of the NDA government also had an impact on projecting a united opposition. The grandstanding and self-promotion of certain parties, such as the Congress, often came at the cost of strengthening the unity of the Mahagathbandhan.

The BJP deployed massive resources, including large numbers of cadres brought in from outside the state, and spent crores of rupees to influence the outcome of the elections. The entire State machinery was at its service, with a compliant EC leading the way.

A record 67 per cent of voters participated in the Bihar Assembly elections – an increase of 9.6 per cent compared to the previous election. Notably, 71.6 per cent of women voters exercised their franchise, marking a significant rise in female political participation. Last-minute monetary handouts, such as the promise to provide Rs. 10,000 to every woman, had a significant impact on voting.

Discussions on seat-sharing dragged on till the last minute as the RJD refused to support us in one seat which we had contested in the previous assembly elections. Our Party hence was forced to contest in three seats that we had earlier contested, along with one new seat. Across all four seats, we polled 3,02,974 votes (0.61 per cent). We retained one seat, Bibhutipur, with a majority of 10,281 votes, securing 40.37 per cent of the vote. In the other constituencies as well, we polled a substantial share of votes: Hayaghat (38.68 per cent), Manjhi (33.02 per cent), and Pipra (40.74 per cent).

Kerala LDF: On November 1, the LDF government in Kerala declared the historic eradication of extreme poverty within the state. This achievement is the result of the meticulously planned and executed Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme (EPEP), a four-year, data-driven initiative that mobilised local self-governments to identify and uplift 64,006 households through tailored interventions. This success is a testament on the efficacy of the Kerala development model, which is based on progressive politics, decentralised governance and a rights-based approach. It should be used by the Party in our campaign as a concrete, replicable model to counter the exploitative policies of the Union government. Kerala’s success was achieved despite a relentless fiscal war waged by the Union government, which has systematically starved opposition-ruled states of funds. This makes the achievement even more significant, as it showcases the political will and commitment of a Left government to achieve superior welfare outcomes, despite the constraints.

Local Body Elections in Kerala: Elections to all the local bodies in Kerala were held on 9th and 11th December 2025. 71 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise. The results were a setback to the LDF, with the UDF making substantial gains across the corporations, municipalities and gram panchayats. BJP was able to win in the Trivandrum municipal corporation. The Party conducted a in-depth review for the setback.

The Congress entered into unholy alliances with both the BJP and religious fundamentalist forces such as the Jamaat-e-Islami to ensure our defeat. This once again demonstrates the Congress’s lack of seriousness in combating communalism, particularly in Kerala.

Bomb Blast in Delhi: The bomb blast in Delhi has claimed 13 lives and investigations have revealed the involvement of a widespread network based in Jammu and Kashmir, in carrying out the attack. The oppressive policies of the Union government continue to alienate the people of Jammu and Kashmir, providing fertile ground for extremist forces to rear their heads.

Following the Phalagam terrorist attack, the government had claimed that Operation Sindoor had eliminated terrorist infrastructure, particularly as it targeted the Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters. However, the Delhi blast contradicts these claims, as the government itself has attributed the latest attack to Jaish. This once again vindicates the position that military actions across the border cannot, by themselves, eradicate terrorism.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has accused the Indian government of orchestrating the bomb blast in Islamabad. In this atmosphere, it is essential that all sections of the people remain vigilant, maintain peace and harmony, and not succumb to provocations.

Attacks on Women, Dalits and Adivasis: The attacks on women, dalits and adivasis are continuing unabated, particularly in the states where the BJP is governing. In Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, not a day goes by without a report of such attacks appearing in the media. In the national capital Delhi, NCR region, a woman was raped in a moving van and thrown out. Apart from other factors, these attacks are a reflection of the patriarchal and Manuwadi ideology propagated by the RSS and its affiliate organisations. The complicity of the BJP governments – both at the state and centre – and their blatant refusal to punish the accused criminals is further emboldening the perpetrators, leading to an increase in such attacks. National Crime Record Bureau’s ‘Crime in India Report 2023’ reveals that there is 14.9 per cent spike in dowry related crimes.

The Delhi High Court has granted bail to Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a former BJP MLA convicted in the rape of a minor girl in Unnao. The victim has gone on record detailing the various violent and coercive attempts made by the convict to influence witnesses as well as the survivor herself. Sengar is also a convict in the custodial death of the victim’s father. It is unfortunate that the Court failed to take cognisance of these serious facts while granting bail and suspending his sentence. This order is a black mark on the judicial system and does not inspire confidence among survivors in their fight for justice.

Crimes against SC/ST have surged by 28.8 per cent. During 2013-2023 crime against Dalits increased by 46 per cent and against adivasis by 91 per cent. The official data itself shows the steep increase in the crimes on women, dalits and adivasis during the 11 years of BJP government led by Modi.

Attacks in Assam: Violence broke out in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, leading to two deaths and substantial destruction of property. The situation is being aggravated by clashes between groups along ethnic lines. This adverse development is the result of the ‘double-engine’ government in Assam and its approach of allowing ethnic fault lines to fester, thereby paving the way for polarisation. It is also a consequence of aggressive policies relating to eviction from land.

Communal Attacks

Attacks on Minorities: Hindutva communal outfits such as the Bajrang Dal and other affiliates have carried out heinous attacks on Christians in various places, disrupting Christmas celebrations. The inaction of the government is deliberate and intended to facilitate such attacks. All this is part of the ongoing policy of the RSS–BJP to dismantle the secular State and establish a Hindu Rashtra.

Another dangerous feature emerging is the attack on migrant workers, particularly those from Bengal and North East. In Odisha, the attacks on Bengali migrant workers have increased. At least two people were killed in these attacks.

In Odisha, attacks on Muslim minorities in the name of ‘Bangladeshi infiltrators’ have increased since the BJP won the state legislative assembly elections. In Haryana a 45-year old man was murdered by the cow vigilantes at the Haryana-Rajsthan border. In Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh reports of attacks on Muslim minorities continue on a regular basis.

In an instance of growing racial attacks, an MBA student from Tripura, was attacked and killed in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Attempts to Whip Communal Tensions in Tamil Nadu: The BJP and other Hindutva communal forces are trying to whip up communal tensions in Tamil Nadu by manufacturing a controversy around the religious sites situated on Tirupparankundram Hill in Madurai district, with a sinister eye on political gain. Seeking to extract political benefit in Tamil Nadu, BJP leaders, in February 2025, labelled the site as the “Ayodhya of the South,” brought in people from outside, and attempted to provoke an incident.

In December, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, hearing a petition on the issue, ignored earlier court rulings, historical records and the Places of Worship Act, 1991. By allowing the petitioner to light the Karthigai Deepam atop a British-era survey pillar adjacent to the Sikandar Badusha Dargah, the court has provided an opportunity to communal forces. The single-judge bench, overruling the objections of the state government, and the temple administration even permitted the petitioner to seek CISF protection for this act.

The two-member division bench also subsequently upheld the verdict of the single judge bench and directed the government to allow the petitioner to light the Karthigai Deepam. Instead of going by the facts and protecting the Constitutional rights, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court is unfortunately passing orders that are strengthening the communal forces. Parties like the AIADMK are supporting the communal elements on this issue. The Hindutva groups have issued death threats to our Party’s Member of Parliament from Madurai Su. Venkatesan.

It is commendable that the people of Madurai and Tamil Nadu stood in harmony against communal hate politics and upheld the pluralistic traditions of the state by refusing to join the protests orchestrated by communal elements.

RSS Centenary: The RSS commemoration of its centenary is used to extensively spread its communal and divisive ideology. In the annual Vijaydasami speech, the RSS Sarsanghchalak had mentioned ‘cultural Marxists’ as a declared enemy, as they ‘fan anarchy’ and create ‘distrust and hatred towards the system, governance and administration’. He further stated that it is ‘crucial to stop the above-mentioned evil designs’ and termed these ideas (Marxist) as ‘intellectual and cultural pollution’. From these statements, the Sangh’s hatred towards Marxism is made amply clear. The speech also made some disparaging comments on Kerala, calling it as a ‘disturbed state’, where attempts are made to create ‘conflicts’ in the name of ‘caste, language and province’. The RSS is using its control over various levers of the State to push for the realisation of its objective of the establishment of a ‘Hindu Rashtra’.

Destruction of Aravalis: The recent changes proposed by the BJP government to the definition of the Aravalis, which have been accepted by the Supreme Court, raise serious concerns about the possible exploitation of these ecologically sensitive hill ranges. These changes appear intended to legalise mining and real estate activities that are damaging the hills and wreaking havoc on the fragile ecological terrain. The clarifications issued by the government do not clear apprehensions. The Supreme Court has suo moto decided to re-open the case and hear the concerns expressed. Unless there is a fundamental change in the policy of the Ministry of Environment, along with a restoration of the original definition of the Aravalis, there will be no real protection for these ranges.

Federalism Undermined: The Supreme Court’s advisory opinion on the Presidential reference concerning the powers of governors fails to prevent the attack on states’ rights caused by excessive centralisation. By affirming governors’ discretion over state legislation without prescribing any time limits, it legitimises the extra-constitutional authority being exercised in opposition-ruled states.

The view that a governor is not obliged to assent to a bill repassed by the state legislature is regressive. Instead, the governor may refer such a bill to the President, enabling indefinite delay. The only limited relief offered—judicial intervention in cases of prolonged inaction—is vague and ineffective, as ‘prolonged delay’ is not defined. The advisory therefore provides no meaningful constitutional checks on the arbitrary functioning of governors acting as political agents of the Centre.

Denial of Rights: The Supreme Court has denied the bail applications of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who have been imprisoned for the last six years. Though five others were released, the reasoning of the Court raises more questions, than answers. It is unfortunate that the highest Court too now appears to be siding with the executive and not rising for the protection of fundamental rights of the people. This bias becomes glaring when people like Kuldeep Sengar and Gurmeet Ram Rahim are granted bail and parole despite their conviction.

The above instances demonstrate the failure of the courts to protect the rights of the states and the people against the authoritarian assault of the BJP-led Union government.

Protests against Government Policies: Trade unions reacted immediately and protested against the notification of the new Labour Codes. The SKM expressed its solidarity with these protests and joined them. Joint protests were organised by workers’, peasants’, and agricultural workers’ organisations against the notification of the Labour Codes, the dilution of the Rural Employment Guarantee Act, and the Electricity Amendment Bill. These protests were held at numerous centres across the country.

Agricultural workers’ organisations took the initiative in organising protests against the dilution of the Rural Employment Guarantee Act and are also planning joint activities with other like-minded organisations.

Students’ organisations have protested against the new bill proposing the formation of a Higher Education Commission.

Women’s organisation conducted public hearing on microfinance institutions and how they are fleecing indebted families, particularly in rural areas. Several protests were also organised on this issue.

People have independently taken to the streets to protest against the government’s inaction in controlling pollution and are demanding cleaner air and a healthier environment.

All this shows that people are not silently accepting the burdens imposed by the BJP-led government, but are actively resisting them. The Party should play an active role in raising people’s consciousness and mobilising them against the government’s anti-people, authoritarian, pro-corporate and communal policies.

Assembly Elections: In a few months, crucial assembly elections will be held in five states – Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry. The CC reviewed the preparations of the Party for these elections.

In Kerala, the Party will work for the re-election of the LDF government, campaigning on its achievements. It will expose the BJP-led Union government’s denial of rightful dues to Kerala, the fiscal constraints imposed and the overall attack on federalism. The Party will also expose the failure of the Congress, the largest opposition party in Parliament, to effectively counter this attack on federalism and communalism.

The Central Committee expresses its confidence that the people of Kerala will vote for the LDF once again in the upcoming assembly elections for a historic third consecutive term.

In Bengal, the Party will work for the defeat of both the TMC and the BJP, which are trying to polarise the society. We will try to rally all the forces that are ready to work against them.

In Tamil Nadu, the Party will contest along with the DMK and its allies to defeat the BJP and its allies.

In Assam, the Party will work for the mobilisation of all the anti-BJP parties and forces and defeat the rabidly communal and divisive BJP government.

In Puducherry, the Party will work for the defeat of the BJP alliance government.

CC Calls

The dilution of the rural employment guarantee act, notification of labour codes and the electricity reform bill are going to effect the basic classes of our society. The Party should conduct intense campaigns among the working class, agricultural workers and other sections of the rural poor and farmers on these issues. The campaign and struggles should be planned in such a manner that they help in our election campaign too.

In Support of the February 12th General Strike: The Party should actively support the call for General Strike given by the Central Trade Unions. State committees of the Party have to bring out a leaflet and distribute it extensively among the workers and other sections of the toiling people. On the day of the Strike, the Party cadre should be mobilised in support of the Trade Union actions.

Against the Notification of Labour Codes: The Party Centre will bring out a pamphlet on this issue. All the Party Committees should campaign against the notification of Labour Codes.

Protests Against US Aggression on Venezuela: There is widespread anger among the people against the US aggression on Venezuela and the brazen manner in which the President was kidnapped. We need to campaign extensively and organise huge protests in all the major cities in the states, particularly state capitals. All the non-BJP parties can be mobilised to participate in these large protest activities.

Campaign Against Dilution of Rural Employment Guarantee Act: The Party should undertake an intensive campaign against the dilution of the rural employment guarantee act.

  • All the Party leaders and cadre should visit houses of the job-card holders and agricultural workers who were involved in the NREGA work.

  • A pamphlet explaining the changes in the Act and how that is going to adversely impact the lives of the rural poor is published by the Party Centre and is sent to all the state committees. This should be immediately translated and widely sold among the people.

  • Our cultural organisations should be asked to produce different performance forms to take our message among the people.

  • Small group meetings should be organised in maximum number of villages.

  • In the priority areas identified by the Party state committees, we should ensure that this campaign is effectively held.

  • Protests should be organised with the participation of the affected people in all the taluq and district centres.

All our Party branches should actively participate in these campaigns and implementing the CC Calls. Priority should be on visiting maximum possible houses and explaining our views.

It is proposed that the campaign can start from January 30 (death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi) and held for a week, till February 5. Joint struggles can be conducted with other Left parties and movements/forces that are protesting against these changes made by the BJP government.

State-wide jathas will be conducted across all Hindi-speaking states to protest these anti-people policies of the government. A massive public rally will be organised in Delhi in the last week of March, mobilising people from all these states.

The Central Committee of the CPI(M) vowed to continue its resolute fight against the BJP and Hindutva communal forces, while simultaneously working to build the independent strength of the Party.