More than one million communists attented the rally at the start of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Plenum

ICP, 28th December 2015

More than 1.2 million people attended the rally organized at the start of All India Organisational Plenum of CPI(M) in Kolkata on 27th December. This is reported as being one of the biggest ever mobilizations by the communists in India.

According to CPI (M) sources, the province of West Bengal, the capital of which is Kolkata, is ruled by an anti-Communist party that has unleashed terror against the left, 171 leftist activists have been murdered in the last four years and thousands were injured in attacks by the ruling party goons and police.

The rally on Sunday called for ouster of the regime as well as strongly combating Central government’s policies of neo-liberalism and rabid communalism. Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of CPI(M) and others addressed the rally.

The CPI-M begins a five-day plenum here from Sunday to streamline and strengthen the party organisation. Since two critical Indian states — Kerala and West Bengal — will be going to polls in 2016, the CPI-M is reported to be looking to create the road map for the coming year.

According to The New Indian Express, the Brigade Parade is expected to lay stress on deepening the Party's links with the masses and discuss ways to attract the youth since the majority of the party membership constitutes old people. Over 400 leaders will be attending the plenum.