Ranchi: The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) [CPI(ML)] will support the INDIA bloc candidates in the upcoming Rajya Sabha election on June 18, party national general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya announced on Sunday. The candidates are Pranav Jha of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Baidyanath Ram of the Congress party.
Party MLAs to Back Alliance Nominees
CPI(ML) has two MLAs in the state assembly: Arup Chaterjee and Chandradeo Mahato. Addressing the media after the party’s two-day state convention, Bhattacharya said, “I am assured that INDIA bloc MLAs will support the candidates representing their alliance and defeat the BJP strategy to project industrialist Parimal Nathwani as an independent candidate.” He emphasized that since people voted for the INDIA bloc in the last assembly election, MLAs should back the alliance nominees in the Rajya Sabha poll. Bhattacharya also confirmed the appointment of two party functionaries, Geeta Mandal and Haldhar Mahto, as polling agents for the election.
Planned Agitations Over Inflation and Jobs
Bhattacharya announced that CPI(ML) will launch an agitation called ‘Kaam Do’ (give work) in rural areas from Monday until July 15, focusing on rising inflation. This will be followed by another movement in August demanding jobs and decent wages. He also expressed support for student union protests demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over examination paper leaks. Bhattacharya called for the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and its replacement with a new system for conducting competitive exams.
Allegations of Voter List Manipulation
On the West Bengal election, Bhattacharya claimed that the BJP won by a margin of over 35 lakh votes while 35 lakh applications from voters deleted from the list during the Special Summary Revision (SIR) were pending with tribunals. He also raised suspicion over a recent fire at a government building in Kolkata that allegedly destroyed Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He alleged that a more dangerous game was being played in Jharkhand, with Dalits, tribals, and farmers being removed from the voter list. Specifically, he claimed that 1.40 lakh names had been removed from the voter list in the Bagodar assembly constituency.
Call for United Opposition
Bhattacharya accused the BJP of trying to turn the country into a one-party rule and stressed that all opposition parties must fight in unison. He urged unity among opposition forces to counter the BJP’s strategies.
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About the Author: Sanjay Sahay, with over a decade of experience in journalism, primarily covers crime, security, central agencies, and civil courts in Ranchi. He also reports on education and higher education policies in the state.
