Election campaigning ends this evening for elections to the Madhya Pradesh Assembly. The CPI (M) has concentrated a large part of it's effort on two constituencies in Moreina-Gwalior region--Jaura and Gohad. On the penultimate day of campainging, on 22 November Sitaram Yechury, Member of the Polit Bureau and leader of CPI (M) group in Rajya Sabha addressed impressive election rallies in both the constituencies. CPI(M) has put up candidates in 8 assembly segments in different regions of state.
CPI(M) state secretary Badal Saroj said that besides these two constituencies his party is also in serious contest in Simaria and Sirmaur constituencies. He also expects the three party front of CPI(M), CPI and Rashtriya Samanata Dal (largely an organisation of Dalit peasants), contesting almost every fourth seat in 230 member MP assembly to have enough representation in the next assembly to raise issues of deprived and working masses. CPI is contesting on 21 seats and Samanata Dal on 36.
Yechury addressing rallies in Jaura and Gohad towns sharply attacked the anti-people and corrupt policies of both the Congress and the BJP and pointed out that BJP additionally follows a communally-divisive path. Underlining need of alternative policy path in interest of working people and country, he called upon voters of both the constituencies to send CPI(M) candidates, who have always stood in all their struggles to raise voice in the assembly for such an alternative approach and also protect interests of poor and deprived.
In Jaura, where CPI(M) has put up its popular leader Ashok Tiwary, ex-Nagarpalika Chairman of adjoining Kailaras town (only other urban center in this largely rural and backward constituency) Yechury also took part in the procession through the main markets of town, after his meeting. CPI(M)'s ten year work in leadership of Kailaras Municipal Body, it's struggle for protecting Kailaras Sugar mill, which is only sugar mill in this area that too in the cooperative sector, its successful struggle for protecting some 2000 very old houses in outer areas of Jaura after High Court ordered demolition and its total identification with the struggle of poor and deprived peasants of this area have given party edge over all others in campaign. Given the unpopularity of sitting BSP MLA, who is contesting again and both Congress and BJP on a weak wicket, Jaura is likely to see a really four cornered context.
Similarly in Gohad, an SC reserved constituency, the CPI(M) has put up it's equally popular Municipal Body ex-chairman Premnarain Mahore. CPI(M) still controls this municipal body, with his wife as current Chairperson. Besides struggle for potable piped water in the town and 55 villages of Jatwada, issue of land loosers for Malanpur industrial center not getting promised jobs and industries in crisis, compensation and rehabilitation for 8 submerged villages to Bainsly Dam and fight again social oppression, have given CPI(M) great momentum. In a significant show of unity, Samanata Dal's supremo Motiram Shastri addressed the meting along with Sitaram Yechury. Beside a significant Dalit population this constituency also has around 14% Muslim population.
Though a sitting seat for Congress, its changing of candidate has led to internal problems and on the other hand the BJP's two time MLA's bad reputation has only helped give additional edge to issue of security here. Two days before Sitaram Yechury's meeting, the jeep belonging to CPI(M) candidate, carrying some 50 ltrs of extra fuel, was burnt by unidentified attackers right outside his house in the dead of night when he along with family was sleeping inside. Not just CPM(M) supporters, almost the entire Gohad town has raised its voice in protest.
Gwalior, November 23, 2013