The most critical period is the life of the country is underlined by the fact that today, a BJP-led coalition has grabbed power at the Centre.
This is causing deep concern to all those who believe in the secular democratic foundations of our Republic. They realise the danger posed by this communal, rightist, reactionary government to the future of our country, to our national unity and integrity, to the bonds of brotherhood and amity that unite our people, to the rich pluralist culture that characterises our ancient land. They note with concern the attacks on the minority communities by members of the BJP-Sangh parivar. They see the threat to the parliamentary system posed by the BJP ...
The communal and rightist forces have however come to occupy a large space in Indian politics today, whether they remain in power or are out of it. That calls for an ideological, political, social and cultural struggle against them, on the basis of concrete facts and the experience of the masses.
The BJP-led coalition, which is shaky and unstable, and beset with contradictions has to be removed from power, and a secular-democratic alternative has to take its place.
The decline of the Congress during the last decade due to people's dissatisfaction and disillusionment and its other sins of commission and omission, has been cynically exploited by the BJP by taking recourse to communal and demagogic propaganda.
We in the Communist and Left Movement have to frankly ask ourselves the question: Why were we not able to fill the vacuum, especially in the central Hindi region and Western India. (Source: The New Age Weckly, 20-26 September, 1998)
CPI: National Council (Elected by XVII Congress, September, 1998)
General Secretary : A.B. Bardhan
Treasurer : K.C. Bansal
National Executive : 31 - Muslims 2
1. Shameem Faizee
2. Jalaluddin Ansari (Bihar)
National Council : 125 - Muslims 7
(4 Vacant) 3.Azeez Pasha (AP)
4. Imtiaz Beg (UP)
5. K.E. Ismail (Kerala)
6. M. Rahamathulla (Kerala)
7. A.N. Sheikh (Gujarat)
Candidates : 13 - Muslim : NIL
(3 vacant)
Women in Major Parties
Party Total Members No. of Women
BJP
Parliamentary Board 9 1
National Executive 73 9
Congress
Working Committee 19 2
CPI(M)
Politbureau 15 0
Central Committee 70 5
CPI
Secretariat 9 0
National Executive 31 3
National Council 125 6
JD
Pol. Affairs Committee 15 0
Parliamentary Board 15 0
National Executive 75 11
Women in Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha No. of Women elected % of the Total
First 22 4.4
Second 27 5.4
Third 34 6.7
Fourth 31 5.9
Fifth 22 4.2
Sixth 19 3.4
Seventh 28 5.1
Eighth 44 8.1
Ninth 27 5.2
Tenth 39 7.18
Eleventh 40 7.18
Twelfth 44 8.1
Party-wise Break-up in 12th Lok Sabha
BJP 15
Cong (I) 10
CPM 3
SP 3
CP 2
TC 2
TDP 2
Others 6
Independent & Nom. 1
They had promised Ram rajya but we have instead got a traders' rajya. These traders are even taking lives through adulteration.
- Sitaram Yechuri, CPI(M) Politbureau Member
hitting out at the government's performance, especially over the dropsy deaths