CPI (M) contests Sirsa in Haryana

Prakash Karat, General Secretary of the CPI (M) while addressing a huge rally in Fatehabad on 15 February announced that the party would contest Sirsa in Haryana in the forthcoming elections. Com Ram Kumar of CPI (M) is contesting in Sirsa (SC).

Com Ram Kumar, who started taking keen interests in social transformation since his schooldays, joined the democratic movement immediately after completing his school education. He has been playing a leading role in mobilizing agricultural workers in the state. He even faced police atrocities while leading a movement to provide due rights to agricultural workers. He was even jailed for 12 days in 1994 during the state wide agitation of brick-kiln workers. Com Ram Kumar presently is the secretary of Fatehabad District Committee of CPI (M) and also the state committee member of the party. He is also the state secretary of All India Agricultural workers Union.

There are nine assembly constituencies (5 under Sirsa district, 3 under Fatehabad and 1 under Jind district) falling under Sirsa parliamentary constituency. This constituency has the largest registered voters in Haryana. Sirsa has a rich tradition of democratic movements since the anti-colonial struggles when people of the district participated in great numbers against colonial exploitation of Britishers.

Party has been waging relentless struggle for proper implementation of NREGA in the state. Party has been steadfast in championing the struggles for social justice and against obscurantism and regressive traditions in the state. Land based struggles have also been intensified in the recent past. Party has launched movements against the system of bonded labours in the Sirsa district and ensured that bonded labours were freed.

Right after the rally in Fatehabad on 15 February, the party has begun election preparations seriously and has held conventions in all assembly constituencies falling under this seat and formed party committees. Efforts are on to form booth level committees. Com Ram Kumar has already visited more than 100 villages and addressed people in the area. People have also donated funds to the party in these lection public meetings. Sirsa also hosted a state level rally of farmers on the occasion of state conference of All India Kisan Sabha. This rally provided a fillip to election campaigns. Election in the state will held in single phase on 7 May 2009. Campaigns will gain momentum after nominations are filed.