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CPI(M) sets ambitious target for the party in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has set an ambitious target for the party in Rajasthan for the next Assembly elections, scheduled sometime in November. The CPI (M), which has been in the forefront of farmers struggles for water and power during the past four years of the Bharatiya Janata Party Government here, also hopes to benefit from some of the pro-people acts of the United Progressive Alliance Government, which the party claims, were carried out under pressure from it.

It may sound ambitious for a party which has been winning from a single seat for the past many elections, but the CPI (M) has already identified 35-40 seats in north Rajasthan covering the canal belt and Shekhawati area where its base has grown considerably during the past five years. The party hopes that the slogan, “Ek Sei Anek”(from one to many), given by it sometime back, should work this time to break the single member jinx. The party also believes that the delimitation of the Assembly constituencies, which would probably come to force in the coming elections, has given it some niche seats.

“We feel that the canal belt where the party led farmers’ struggles would help it to gain seats. Over a period the CPI (M) has a team in this area and adequate number of candidates with winning chances,” Vasudev, State Secretary, CPI (M), said talking to The Hindu. “Our optimism is based on the growth of membership of Kisan Sabha, Nav Jawan Sabha (youth forum) and the Student Federation of India,” he pointed out.

The party, which led a bloody agitation in the Phase I area of the Indira Gandhi Canal which claimed more than half a dozen lives in the canal belt and also carried out a more peaceful campaign for electricity for farmers in Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu districts, has now 2.94 lakh members in Kisan Sabha and 76,000 members in the youth forum. The strength of SFI has grown to 46,000.

In the canal belt the CPI (M) has identified Sadulshahar, Anupgarh Srikaranpur and Raisinghnagar in Sriganganagar district and Sangaria, Hanumangarh, Pilibanga and Bhadra seats in Hanumangarh district. In Bikaner the newly formed Kajuwala, which earlier was part of Lunkaransar, is a chosen seat. Kajuwala saw intense action during the farmer’s agitation. The party has also identified Lunkaransar and Dungargarh for contesting.

In the Shekhawati belt, Dhod constituency in Sikar district - the lone seat the party is holding - is to be reserved for Scheduled Castes and the sitting MLA, Amra Ram has to look for a new seat. “We are not unduly perturbed by this. Dhod will remain Rajasthan’s Bengal while we will also fight from Datta Ramgarh, Khandela, Sikar and Laxmangarh in the district,” informed Prof.Vasudev.

The CPI (M) has zeroed in on three seats in Churu district, two in Jhunjhunu and five in Nagaur. In the Adivasi areas it is planning to concentrate on the newly created Jhadol (formerly Phalasia) in Udaipur and in Dungarpur seat.

“From now on through various programmes the party would highlight its activities in Rajasthan which would culminate in the election campaign,” said Hannan Mohlla, MP and in charge for Rajasthan.

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