“Drive away the fascist forces, Fight for rights of the people of the state, Rise as an alternative political force, Build a strong communist party” was the theme of the state cadre meeting of the CPIML in Tamil Nadu on 18 May 2025 at Chennai. More than 350 cadres from 25 districts participated in deliberations on the political climate of the state, to build a strong communist party organisation and plan for next assembly elections due in 2026. Tamil Nadu state secretary Asaithambi initiated the discussions by presenting an approach paper.
Balasundaram, CCM, explained the political approach in the backdrop of developments of AIADMK-BJP alliance and the entry of a new political outfit by actor Vijay. He called for a state level mobilisation on housing, land and wage issues as a culmination of a vibrant campaign among masses. While welcoming affiliation of The Left Trade Union Centre (LTUC) with AICCTU as an encouraging development, he called for mobilising sanitation workers as a political force in the state.
Chandramohan, CCM, elaborated the organisational part of the approach paper. He suggested the party committees and branches to discuss the approach paper, grasp and implement its content in letter and spirit. The party committees are asked to undertake socio economic investigations in their area of work to formulate demands on burning issues of the people and to reach out to them.
Comrade Shankar, PBM, stressed that the cadres should pay single minded attention to expand and deepen the party work base and to increase the mobilisation and vote capacity at the district and block level. He also called upon cadres to take up the challenge of transcending the barriers and break the hurdles.
Balasubramanian, CCM, highlighted increasing danger of fascist attacks and called upon party cadres to build the organisation to cope up with new challenges.
A 10 member fraternal delegation of the Communist party (CP), comrades AS Kumar, Bhuvana, Janakiraman, A Govindaraj, Mohan, Gopal, Munusamy and Jayaprakash led by comrade Kumarasami joined the meeting while Comrade S Kumarasami, advisor of the CP, addressed the gathering. Comrade Kumarsami began his speech by saying that Prime Minister Modi has announced a ceasefire with Pakistan, but his attack on the people of India and the working class is continuing unabated. He also emphasized that women workers from the most downtrodden communities of Arunthathiyar, Adi Dravidars and MBCs are involved in sanitation work in Chennai who should be developed as an independent political force. Comrade A S Kumar, the president of LTUC, sang a song on the conditions of the working class.
A Tamil booklet with two articles, “Hundred years of the communist movement in India” and “Identifying Indian fascism, if not now, then when?” was released by comrade Dipankar and the first copy was received by comrade Kumarasami. Another book on the party's 11th Congress document, “Resolution on the perspective, orientation and tasks of anti-fascist resistance” was released by comrade Krishnaveni, a member of the Central Control Commission of the party and received by comrade Suseela, a standing committee member. A web magazine called “Ethir Chol” (Counter Point/Word) in Tamil, which can be accessed at www.ethirsol.com was launched by comrade Dipankar.
Comrade Dipankar, the general secretary of the party, made his concluding remarks thanking for the financial contributions made by Tamil Nadu comrades and LTUC-CP for Bihar elections.
He said that there is an unprecedented, all-out attack on the people, constitution and all democratic institutions by the ruling Modi government. The people of Tamil Nadu are determined to defeat the BJP and its alliance. This anti-BJP atmosphere in Tamil Nadu needs to be strengthened more by taking painstaking efforts to expand and deepen our party work in the state. We have to strengthen secular and anti-imperialist nationalism against Hindutva’s communal nationalism which is a real test for progressive forces. In Tamil Nadu, BJP is trying to capitalise on the anti-incumbency factor of the DMK led state government and by riding on the back of AIADMK and other parties in their alliance to capture the state power. The BJP is the first and foremost danger for the country and the people of Tamil Nadu. We have many issues with DMK like betrayal of election promises, attack on working class rights, acquiring lands to serve the corporates, corruption, caste atrocities, honour killings, etc. We should make the state government accountable for all these. But at the same time, we should be clear about targeting the BJP first which is hell bent on destroying the progressive ethos and values of the state and also the life and livelihood of the people and the downtrodden. Both BJP and DMK cannot be equated.
Comrade Dipankar heartily welcomed the affiliation of LTUC with AICCTU on May Day. He also appreciated the grand welcome extended by workers of various trade unions affiliated with AICCTU, including sanitation, TASMAC and other factory workers of LTUC and CP. He appealed to confront the challenges with renewed vigour and spirit and to march forward in the battle to defeat fascist forces in the state and called for making the forthcoming party state conference in Tamil Nadu a historic one by expanding the party membership and widening our influence before the next Assembly elections due in a year.
