Latest news with #CPI(M
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI(M) rejects the inference that Nilambur's win widened UDF's path to victory in 2026 Assembly polls
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State Secretariat emphatically rejected the reading that the Nilambur Assembly by-election win had significantly widened the Opposition United Democratic Front's (UDF) path to victory in the 2026 Assembly elections. CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan told a press conference that, on the contrary, the party had shored up its base in Nilambur despite the UDF harnessing radical Islamist and Hindu majoritarian forces to its electoral bandwagon. Mr. Govindan said the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) vote share had increased substantially in the Nilambur Assembly segment, from an estimated 40,000 in the 2024 Lok Sabha by-election to 66,060 in the recently concluded Assembly bypoll. The results put paid to the UDF's claim that the bypoll was a verdict against the LDF government. 'The CPI(M) has an assured 40,000 votes in Nilambur. The party has added 22,000 additional votes to its latest tally. The trend, if it holds, will decimate the UDF in the local body polls in 2025 and the 2026 Assembly elections. The UDF has missed the larger picture,' he said. Mr. Govindan said the CPI(M) faced strong headwinds in Nilambur. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) conducted a communally divisive campaign using the UDF's alliance with the 'radical Islamist' Jama'at-e-Islami as a front. He said the SDPI, despite fielding its candidate, cross-voted for the UDF. Its vote share in the Assembly segment dwindled from 4.751 in the 2024 LS by-poll to 2,275 in the Assembly by-poll. Mr. Govindan said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate stated publicly that his supporters had resorted to last-minute tactical voting to aid the UDF. Mr. Govindan said the Nilambur bypoll was ominous for Kerala's secular polity. The UDF opened the door for Islamist and Hindu majoritarian outfits to leverage votes through schismatic communal messaging. The IUML and Congress have abandoned broad-based party politics. Instead, they have stoked profoundly divisive identity politics for electoral gain. Mr. Govindan said P.V. Anvar piggybacked on the LDF's development initiatives in Nilambur for electoral advantage. The party machinery foundered in countering the gambit.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Zumba is harmful to moral life of students': Religious groups slam Kerala bid to bring dance-based fitness programme to schools
Some religious groups in Kerala have raised concerns about the CPI(M)-led government's plan to introduce Zumba, a dance-based fitness programme, in schools. They argued that the 'Western import' would have an adverse effect on morality. The state Education Department recently decided to teach Zumba in all schools as part of efforts to drive students away from drug abuse and violence, and to improve their physical and mental fitness. Last month, ahead of the beginning of the current academic year, the Education Department had given training to teachers as part of their annual refresher programmes. However, Abdul Samad Pookkottor, a prominent cleric belonging to SAMASTHA, a clerical body known for its pro-IUML stand, said: 'Zumba is harmful to the moral life of students. Prayer is the best for mental well-being. We also have yoga. This is an import from the Western world. If the government insists that Zumba dance should be implemented, our clerics will fight against it. Girls and boys should not be allowed to mingle under the pretext of the Zumba dance. Should we require this dance programme from Colombia? Our students should be allowed to maintain morality. Let the government appoint physical education teachers in all schools.' Another cleric, Nazar Faizy Koodathai, said students should not be compelled into 'vulgarity'. 'If well-built students are also forced to dance wearing minimum clothes and mingling with the opposite sex, it is highly deplorable. Instead of introducing Zumba, let the government focus on physical training programmes. Students should not be forced into vulgarity,' he said. The Indian Union Muslim League's student wing, the Muslim Students Federation, also came out against the decision. IUML state president P K Navas said, 'This was unilaterally introduced in schools without conducting a study.' While chairing a meeting convened to address increasing incidents of teenage violence and drug abuse, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had suggested the idea of introducing Zumba in schools to ease stress and make students more active. In 2022, the Left Front government had decided to introduce gender-neutral uniforms and other reforms in the education sector. A school curriculum committee had also suggested doing away with separate seats for boys and girls in schools as part of bringing gender neutrality. However, the government was forced to recall the reforms in the wake of protests from religious organisations.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC to take up K'taka plea for clarity on grounds of arrest
The article reflects on the Emergency declared in India on June 25, 1975, highlighting the initial concerns of CPI(M) about authoritarianism. It recounts the rise of student activism against Indira Gandhi's regime, the repression faced, and the personal impacts on leaders like Sudhir and his peers. Ultimately, it contrasts the past Emergency with today's perceived institutionalized authoritarianism, emphasizing the fragility of democracy.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mamata leads Oppn charge on ECI drive
The article reflects on the Emergency declared in India on June 25, 1975, highlighting the initial concerns of CPI(M) about authoritarianism. It recounts the rise of student activism against Indira Gandhi's regime, the repression faced, and the personal impacts on leaders like Sudhir and his peers. Ultimately, it contrasts the past Emergency with today's perceived institutionalized authoritarianism, emphasizing the fragility of democracy.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI(M) wants mechanisms in place to safeguard fishermen livelihood rights while framing coastal policy
The CPI(M) in Puducherry has demanded robust mechanisms to safeguard the rights and livelihood of fishermen communities in ongoing marine resources management initiatives. In a statement, S. Ramachandran, CPI(M) State Secretary said it was imperative that the formulation of a framework for managing marine resources was done in a transparent manner and after holding detailed consultations as it had a direct bearing on the livelihood of the fisherfolk communities. He alleged that the government was opaque about the Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) framework being evolved under the Indo-Norway Integrated Ocean Initiative that has as its objective striking a balance between growth, sustainable management of ocean resources and coastal environment preservation. Pointing out that the Centre had selected Puducherry and Lakshadweep to pilot the initiative, the CPI(M) said the lack of transparency on the part of the government raised concerns that Puducherry's coastline would become a 'test-bed' for anti-people and pro-corporate policies. Meanwhile, critical flaws had been flagged in the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan under formulation, Mr. Ramachandran said. In the draft plan, there were major irregularities in the maps showing the fishing areas and land use spaces of the coastal community, he added. The CPI(M) leader called for suspension of these ongoing projects until consultations were held with all stakeholders, ecological concerns addressed and protection of traditional fishing rights was guaranteed. Moreover, while the much-touted Blue Economy aimed at making India a five trillion dollar economy from tapping ocean resources, there were no concrete measures spelt out to safeguard fishermen rights and their livelihoods, he said. The CPI(M) advocated for promulgating a special protection law for fishermen rights on the lines of the ones in effect for hill-forest dwellers.
