The 22nd All India Party Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), held from April 18 to 22, 2018, in Hyderabad, was a pivotal event that reflected the party’s response to the political landscape of the time, particularly in the lead-up to the 2019 general elections. This Congress was significant for its focus on opposing the BJP-led government and addressing internal debates on alliances, providing a comprehensive strategy for the party’s future.
Background and Context
The CPI(M) is one of India’s major left-wing political parties, known for its commitment to communist ideology and its historical influence in states like West Bengal and Kerala. The Party Congress, held every three years as per the party constitution, is the supreme decision-making body where key policies, resolutions, and leadership are determined. The 22nd Congress was hosted in Hyderabad, a city with historical significance due to the Telangana Armed Peasants struggle, which brought the agrarian question to the forefront of India’s politics.
Key Issues and Debates
A central point of discussion was the party’s relationship with the Indian National Congress (INC), reflecting a divide within the party. The debate was between two factions:
- Majority View: Led by former General Secretary Prakash Karat, this view opposed any political alliance with the Congress, arguing that such an alliance would dilute the party’s independent identity and its ability to mobilize the working class. This stance was backed by several state units and emphasized maintaining the party’s ideological purity.
- Minority View: Supported by General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, this view favored a more flexible approach, proposing an “open door” policy that allowed for understanding or cooperation with the Congress in specific contexts to defeat the BJP. This was seen as a pragmatic approach to unite secular forces.
The resolution adopted at the Congress ruled out any political alliance with the Congress but allowed for some understanding or cooperation in specific situations. This compromise was reached after an intense discussion, with many state units, including Maharashtra, Bihar, and Odisha, demanding a secret ballot to resolve the issue, highlighting the party’s practice of inner-party democracy.
The main task identified was to defeat the BJP and its allies by rallying all secular and democratic forces. The party emphasized the need to maximize the pooling of anti-BJP votes through appropriate electoral tactics based on their political line. This was seen as crucial given the BJP’s aggressive pursuit of neo-liberal reforms and communal policies under Narendra Modi’s leadership, as criticized in the addresses during the Congress.
Political Resolution and Speeches
The political resolution, adopted on May 15, 2018, and available on the party’s website (CPI(M) 22nd Congress Political Resolution), underscored the need to maintain the party’s independent identity while seeking to build a Left and democratic front. It highlighted the BJP’s policies as anti-people, pro-rich, and reactionary, aligning with the critiques in the speeches.
Key speeches included:
- BV Raghavulu’s Welcome Address: Delivered on April 18, 2018, at the inaugural session, it highlighted Hyderabad’s historical significance, particularly the Telangana Armed Peasants struggle, and recent mobilizations against neo-liberal policies. He called for an unrelenting onslaught on neo-liberalism, communalism, and imperialism, emphasizing the need to create an anti-communal, anti-capitalist, and anti-imperialist commonsense (Welcome Address by BV Raghavulu).
- Manik Sarkar’s Concluding Address: Also on April 18, 2018, at the inaugural session, he criticized the BJP-led central government over the last four years as anti-people, pro-rich, and reactionary, pursuing divide and rule tactics, destroying secularism, and acting as a junior partner to US imperialism. He stressed the importance of the Congress in mobilizing against these policies and building a Left democratic front, seeking blessings and support from the people (Concluding Address by Manik Sarkar).
Leadership Elections and Organizational Matters
The Congress resulted in significant organizational changes, with a new 95-member Central Committee elected, including 19 new members, and one seat kept vacant for a woman candidate. The Central Committee then elected a 17-member Polit Bureau, with Sitaram Yechury re-elected as General Secretary for another three years, reflecting continuity in leadership.
Key members of the Polit Bureau included:
- Sitaram Yechury (General Secretary)
- Prakash Karat
- Manik Sarkar
- Pinarayi Vijayan
- Brinda Karat
- Kodiyeri Balakrishnan
- M.A. Baby
- Surjya Kanta Mishra
- Mohd. Salim
- Subhashini Ali
- B.V. Raghavulu
- G. Ramakrishnan
- Tapan Sen
- Nilotpal Basu
- A. Vijayaraghavan
- Ashok Dhawale
Notably, A.K. Padmanabhan was dropped from the Polit Bureau, and two new faces were included, indicating a balance between continuity and renewal.
The Political-Organisational Report, discussed and adopted during the Congress, reviewed the implementation of important decisions taken at the previous Plenum on Organisation held in Kolkata in December 2015, ensuring the party remained aligned with its strategic goals.
Below is a table summarizing key details of the 22nd Party Congress:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 18–22, 2018 |
| Location | Hyderabad, Telangana |
| Central Committee | 95 members elected, including 19 new members |
| General Secretary | Sitaram Yechury re-elected |
| Polit Bureau | 17 members elected, with 2 new faces |
| Key Resolution | No alliance with Congress, allow understandings |
| Main Objective | Defeat BJP, rally secular forces |