Umesh Kumar Ray 
Patna: With the Bihar assembly elections just a few months away, most political parties are focusing on striking the right caste equations to gain electoral dividends in the state.
However, straying from the trajectory of other political parties, the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation has brought together dozens of organisations, which since a long time have been fighting for various demands including welfare of labourers, rights of workers from different disciplines and farmers.
The “Badlo Bihar Mahajutaan (Change Bihar Grand Gathering)” organised by the CPI (ML) Liberation in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on March 2 saw a gathering of the representatives of more than 40 organisations on the stage including ASHA workers, widows of martyred soldiers, mid-day meal cooks, nal-jal operators, sanitation workers, cadres of workers from various disciplines and farmers’ unions.
“There were many organisations who are neither directly or indirectly associated with our party’s outfits. We didn’t ask about their political inclination. We stand with them and support their demands. Here, we gave them a platform to voice their demands. These are independent organisations who are struggling with their issues on the ground without any political backing,” said a party leader.
The CPI (ML) liberation also released an 18-point charter after talking to these groups in the gathering. The charter has demands including the implementation of various welfare measures for farmers, landless and homeless people, respectful life for labourers, scheme workers, contractual workers and outsourcing workers, uniform education and job to students and youths along with rights of women and minorities.
It also talks about flood and draught control, protection of environment, free treatment for the poor, promotion of startup and entrepreneurship, benefits for kin of martyred soldiers, security and independence for journalists and payment to aggrieved investors of the Sahara group.
The representatives of these organisations were given a chance to talk about their issues.
Badlo Bihar Mahajutaan becomes platform for representatives of 200 organisations
The Badlo Bihar Mahajutaan was the culmination of 11 days of the Badlo Bihar Nyay Yatra which was started in October last year. Party general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya led the Yatra.
“In every place we visited as part of our Yatra, we saw people protesting for their issues without any political banner. We thought that since there are so many issues impacting people, these should be brought together on one platform. Thereafter, we decided to organise Badlo Bihar Mahajutaan,” said Tarique Anwar, state committee member of the CPI (ML) Liberation.
According to party leaders, representatives of around 200 organisations were present on the stage.
A poster at the Badlo Bihar Mahajutaan organised by the CPI (ML) Liberation in Patna. Photo: Umesh Kumar Ray
“Bihar’s population is around 13.5 crores. In the last one and a half years, we saw that two crore workers of the state have come to the streets with their issues. They also have the support of their families. If we look at it this way, then 10 crore people are agitating for their demands. If we ignore their issues, what kind of Bihar are we going to build? If we want to build a new Bihar, we will have to discuss their issues.” Ranvijay Kumar, national secretary of All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), told The Wire.
“Although we have been raising these issues since the beginning, this time we have brought them all on one platform. Today we have given it a new shape,” he added.
‘Special deception in the name of special package’
Addressing the gathering, CPI (ML) Liberation general secretary Bhattacharya said that the sufferings of the poor, farmers, labourers, Dalits, tribals, women, Muslims, street vendors is increasing day by day in the state.
“Now, time has come to turn this suffering into strength. Today we have an opportunity to bring people, who have been fighting on different issues, on one platform. All these issues are getting organised towards the same direction, and a pledge is being taken from Gandhi Maidan today to bring change in Bihar,” he told the gathering.
Bhattacharya gave a call to build a narrative around those issues in upcoming Bihar assembly elections. He cited the example of Jharkhand and said that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led Mahagathbandhan had fought the Jharkhand assembly elections on these issues and won.
“In Jharkhand, 200 units of electricity is being given free, why can’t it be done in Bihar? If women and elderly people can get Rs. 2,500 in Jharkhand, why can’t they get it in Bihar? Bihar elections should be fought on these agendas, we have to decide from here,” he said.
Citing a recent survey, he said that half the population of Bihar feel hat the Bihar government has completely failed and 25 percent of the the public believe that the government is useless. However they have not thought of changing the regime.
“If 75 percent of the people believe so, then let the BJP live in its imaginary dreams. Bihar will take the same path as Jharkhand where the BJP was stopped. The vehicle will move forward from where it stopped in 2020. Even after Nitish Kumar’s departure, we won many Lok Sabha seats in 2024. This proves that change in Bihar is certain now,” said Bhattacharya.
On the basis of caste survey data, the Bihar government had raised the reservation quota to 65 percent, but the matter is stuck in legal complications.
“If both BJP and JDU agree (on increasing reservation quota), then pass the proposal in the Parliament also, include it in the 9th schedule of the constitution,” said Bhattacharyya.
Bhattacharya also criticised Nitish Kumar on the issue of special status to Bihar.
“Nitish ji used to say that Bihar will get a special state tag. What happened to that demand? Now he is saying that instead of special status, a special package will be given,” he said.
A party supporter with the CPI (ML) Liberation flag at the gathering in Patna. Photo: Umesh Kumar Ray
“Special package ke naam par humein special dhokha mila. Double engine sarkar ke naam par double dhokha mila hai (In the name of a special package, we got special deception. In the name of double engine government, we got double engine deception),” said Bhattacharya.
“BJP wants to make Bihar a laboratory of oppression and suppression. But Bihar has always been a laboratory of struggle. We will not let the conspiracy of BJP succeed. Bihar will move forward and it will change,” he said.
CPI (ML) Liberation eyes more seats in assembly elections
At a time when other left parties of the country have been criticised for not fighting for the issues of people with full vigour ever since its wins in elections, the CPI (ML) Liberation’s initiative of organising the Badlo Bihar Mahajutaan has brought praises from political analysts.
“It is a fact that CPI (ML) Liberation is the only political party which is continuously raising these issues. This time, instead of bringing its alliance partners, they brought people from different walks of life who are fighting for their issues on stage,” said Mahendra Suman, a political analyst.
Similarly, when CPI(ML) Liberation had shared power during the erstwhile Mahagathbandhan government, the party was criticised for abandoning its street fighting spirit.
Many party workers had told this reporter earlier that their hands were tied as they were part of the government and couldn’t raise people’s issues.
“By organising the gathering and bringing together the different issues on one stage, the party has tried to reaffirm that their priority is struggle on road and not in Parliament. And of course, it is also an attempt to increase party’s vote bank base,” added Suman.
The event also served as a show of strength for the party as it hopes to press for more tickets from its alliance partners in the upcoming state assembly elections.
“In the Lok Sabha elections, we demanded more seats but were given only three. We won in two of the constituencies. We believe that if the ticket distribution was done properly, the INDIA alliance would have won more,” said a party leader on the condition of anonymity.
“This time as well, we want good number of seats to contest in the assembly elections. As we have managed to accumulate good crowd and also highlight important issues, we wish our demands of more seats will be considered,” the party leader added.