CPI (M) Jharkhand Gears up for Elections

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is contesting two seats in Jharkhand. Com. Rajendra Singh Munda is the candidate for Ranchi seat while Com. Jyotin Soren is contesting in Rajmahal (ST). Voting will take place on 23rd April in both these constituencies.

Com. Munda is the state secretariat member of the CPI (M) and President of All India Kisan Sabha, Jharkhand State Committee. He has led many land struggles in the state. He has faced state repression and attacks by feudal landlords. He has been arrested and sent to jail many times. Popular among the people, he was elected MLA thrice from Silly, which falls within the Ranchi Parliamentary constituency. Com. Munda being a tribal was elected from a general constituency, which points to his popularity.

It is in this area that the CPI (M) has recently led the struggle against acquisition of land for the airport project. The project was successfully stalled due to our struggles in the area. In nearby Sonahatu in Ranchi region, the CPI (M) has been at the forefront of struggle against large-scale displacement. Several meetings were held in this constituency in the last week, as part of preparations for the election campaign.

Com Jytoin Soren, our candidate for the Rajmahal constituency (reserved for ST) is a state committee member of the CPI (M) and Vice- President of All India Kisan Sabha, Jharkhand State Committee. He has been elected MLA once from Maheshpur, which falls under Rajmahal Parliamentary constituency. Comrade Soren is also a veteran of many land struggles in the state.

Rajmahal is an area that borders West Bengal, with a concentration of minorities and poor peasantry, with a huge number of beedi workers, living there. This seat is currently held by the JMM. People of this area are presently infuriated with large scale displacements under way. They have fought against the Government consistently, as evident in the recent police firing against struggling people in the neighbouring district of Dumka. It is in this context that the CPI (M) is fighting the elections in this region. Four general body meetings organized in the last week witnessed enthusiastic response from our cadre and the people, to our campaign.

The Campaign will gain further momentum from the 23rd March, the last date for filing of nominations. Currently leaders are engaged in mass contact programmes. Comrade Brinda Karat, Member, Polit Bureau, CPI (M) visited several places in both the constituencies and addressed meetings.