The Manifestos


COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA (MARXIST)

Manifesto

Eleventh Lok Sabha Elections

Brothers and Sisters,

Once again all of us are in the midst of a very significant electoral battle.

These elections come at a time when our country and people face the deepest multi-dimensional crisis afflicting India since independence.

The gains made by the freedom struggle, the sacrifices of countless martyrs and the vision of an independent India wedded to the principles of democracy, secularism, self-reliance, social justice and federalism is today coming under severe strain.

The policies pursued by the Congress government under the IMF/World Bank dictates have led the country on a path that severely mortgage our economic sovereignty. During the last five years, the entire self-reliant basis of independent India is being systematically dismantled. The country is neck deep in foreign debt. The plight of the working people has worsened with relentless price rise, growing unemployment; poverty is increasing, the disparities between the rich and the poor further widened alarmingly. And in the process, the ruling politician-businessmen-bureaucrat nexus has been looting the country through unprecedented institutionalised corruption.

During the same period the unity and integrity of India has been continuously assaulted by the communal forces. The brazen destruction of the Babri Masjid represented the gravest attack on India's secular fabric. The communal holocaust that followed claimed thousands of lives sowing the seeds of insecurity deeper amongst the minority community. India's intricate social fabric -- multi-religious, multi-linguistic, diverse cultural traditions and customs -- woven together in the long years of common struggles and co-existence is being perilously threatened. The Congress government during the last five years instead of meeting this challenge squarely has adopted a policy of compromise towards these communal forces bolstering their activities.

The unity and integrity of our country is further threatened by the continued separatist activities both in Kashmir and in the North-East.

The threats to national security were demonstrated in the manner in which our country's borders were infringed and sophisticated weapons dropped on Indian territory in Purulia to fuel anti-national activities.

The federal democratic polity is coming under severe strain. The institutions of parliamentary democracy and Centre-State relations far from being strengthened have been further undermined. The economic policies have widened regional disparities. The youth of the country is being bombarded by degenerate culture through 'open-sky' media onslaught.

These years have also seen growing atrocities on Dalits. The consciousness of the oppressed castes against the injustice mounted on them over the years has grown. The struggle for social justice strengthened. At the same time, divisive caste appeals spread animosity and widen social divisions. The rights of the tribals continue to be encroached while their living conditions deteriorate.

These five years have seen a stark degeneration of moral values. There has been an alarming rise in the criminalisation of social life. Increasing cases of dacoity, unheard of atrocities against women and the girl child have characterised this period.

The unprecedented criminalisation of politics and institutionalised corruption is threatening the very basis of parliamentary democracy. The ruling Congress is leading this degeneration ably assisted by the BJP.

Thus, in every sphere of our existence, the last five years have seen the country reach a sorry pass. The irony of the situation is that despite Indians matching the world's best of creative endeavours, despite some outstanding scientific advances, this period has seen the miseries of the people mounting. This has not only been a period of missed opportunities to ameliorate the lot of the people, it has been a period when the livelihood and security of vast millions has sharply deteriorated. What is at stake today is the very existence of a modern India centred around a vision that emerged in the long arduous struggle for our independence. The choice that the people will exercise in the coming elections, will determine the direction in which India will develop. The urgent need is to stop this rot. The alternative is to degenerate into a fatricidal internecine strife while the economic independence of our country itself is under threat. The urgent need is to uphold all those values that cement the unity and integrity of our country and put the country back on the rails of a vibrant self-reliant proud independent India.

It is with this sense of urgency that the CPI (M) appeals to our fellow Indians to come forward to save India today to change India for the better tomorrow. Defeat those forces while have brought India to such a sorry pass, elect those whose patriotic credentials, whose commitment to secularism are above suspect. It is only the united Left democratic secular forces that can today meet the challenges of our times and carry India forward with its head held high to the twentyfirst century.

Congress (I) rule

The last five years of the Congress rule has been a period of chronic instability for the people of our country.

The economic policies of unbridled liberalisation has led to largescale privatisation. Multinational corporations have gained entry into the core sectors of telecommunications, power, coal, steel, oil etc. The public sector is being sold off. The financial sector banks, insurance, etc is sought to be privatised. At the same time, the country's total debt has crossed Rs. 6 lakh crore. The interest payment on this in the current year is over Rs. 60,000 crores equivalent to our entire fiscal deficit in the current year. The net result has been the mortgaging of the economy and undermining its self-reliant basis.

These policies have meant a bonanza for the big business and misery for the mass of the people. Companies like ITC, Reliance, Larsen & Tubro, Mahindra & Mahindra have seen an increase in their profits by over 300 percent. At the opposite end every aspect of a common man's existence has worsened.

The conditions in rural India, which houses two-thirds of our population has distinctly worsened. The real wages of agricultural workers has fallen. Their cost of living index has risen the sharpest. There are widespread reports of starvation deaths. The refusal to implement land reforms has kept the vast mass of peasantry in conditions of abject poverty. The growth of foodgrain production is just about keeping pace with the population growth. Coupled with the scuttling of the public distribution system, this implies a grave threat to food security for the most needy. The refusal to evolve a national water policy results in crores of rupees worth of property and precious lives being lost due to annual floods and drought. On top of this come the burdens of the new economic policy.

Price Rise:
On the economic front the Congress (I) had promised in 1991 election manifesto that within the first 100 days the prices of essential commodities will be rolled back to levels of July 1990. Daily experience has shown all of us that the results have been to the contrary. Rice costs double of what it cost in 1991; the prices of pulses (dal) have risen nearly twice and in some cases three time; edible oil has become more expensive. So has wheat, sugar, tea and even salt. During these five years, the Central government resorted to unprecedented administrative price hikes. In fact every single item that constitutes the daily consumption basket of millions of Indians is today much more expensive, nearly double of what it was five years ago.

Unemployment:
The Congress (I) had promised that it will create 10 million new jobs per year. Instead what is the situation today? In January 1995, 36,737,000 people were registered at the employment exchanges an increase of 444,000 from January 1994. Over four lakh industrial units that employed lakhs of people are today either closed or sick. In fact instead of increasing employment even those who were employed earlier are on the streets. Additionally the privatisation of the public sector is reducing the employment potential. The government's plans would result in some 646,000 people who were employed in the public sector being eventually retrenched. According to the government itself 1.4 lakh public sector employees had already had to face the axe. Many schemes have been announced by the government with much funfare. But they have miserably failed to provide any relief to the people. Of the allocation made only 14.3 per cent reaches the needy.
Education:
The Congress(I) had promised expanding investment in primary and secondary education. Instead, in real terms there has been a contraction of central government's expenditure. Privatisation and commercialisation of education have been highlights making both the access to and cost of education beyond the reach of the common man.

Health:
The Congress(I) had promised an increase in allocation for public health to achieve Health for all by 2000. Instead there has been an actual decline in the per capita health expenditure from Rs. 120 to Rs. 116, on the public health system from Rs. 103 to Rs. 94 and on disease control programmes from Rs. 103 to Rs. 89 (between 89-90 and 92-93). The withdrawal of the government from its obligations in this sector resulted in skyrocketing of cost of health facilities with privatisation which is keeping the health requirements of the people beyond their reach. At the same time the prices of medicines have shot up drastically, keeping them beyond the reach of those who need them most. This has resulted in a massive outbreak of diseases and the death of lakhs of people due to completely preventable and curable diseases like Malaria and TB.

Poverty:
It had promised the reduction of poverty. According to the Planning Commission's own figures, the number of people below the poverty line increased from 35.6 percent in 1990-91 to 39.6 per ent in 1994-95.

Food security:
It had promised expansion of the public distribution system and its greater reach to feed the needy. Instead what we see during these five years has been a sharp decline in the quantity bought by the people through the public distribution system. This has been primarily due to the fact that the prices of rice have been doubled and that of wheat increased by 75 percent in the ration shops during this period. The threat to food security is bound to aggravate in the coming years with the shift from foodgrain production to commercial crops as a result of the new agricultural policies.

Foreign Debt:
It had promised to prevent India falling into a debt trap. During these years India's foreign debt has risen to over Rs. 600,000 crore. In 1993-94 the indebtedness of the country increased by Rs. 244 crore every day or over 10 crore every hour . India today is the 3rd largest debtor in the world.

It had promised to curb conspicuous consumption and tackle the menace of black money. On the contrary these five years have seen the illegal and immoral enrichment of the ruling politicians businessman-bureaucrat nexus and maximum growth in corruption and black money.
Threats to secularism: It is in this sphere that the Congress(I)'s betrayal to both India as a nation and people has been exposed.

It had promised that it will protect the Babri Masjid and firmly implement the status quo of all existing places of worship as of 15th August, 1947.

The despicable destruction of the Babri Masjid by the BJP/ RSS/ VHP combine and the continuously compromising positions taken by the Congress leadership has contributed to worsening of the communal situation in our country. The Congress(I) had promised in its manifesto last time that all parties must "respect the order and verdict of the court".

Yet it allowed the demolition to take place. Subsequently, instead of clubbing all pending cases and bringing them before the Supreme Court for speedy disposal as suggested by the CPI(M), it deliberately stalled the issue even after the demolition and adopted the wrong method of a presidential reference on whether the mosque was built on any Hindu religious structure. The Supreme Court refused to rightly entertain such a reference. The net result is that till date there has been no solution. Thus, its object compromise with the communal forces led to the worsening of the situation where casualties in the communal riots during the last five years and the loss of property has been the highest in recent memory.

Kashmir:
It had promised a political solution to the problem. Despite the change in mood of the people in the valley who are getting increasingly alienated with the extremists, the last five years have seen the total absence of a political initiative to solve the problem.

Women:
It had promised a better deal for women of India. Instead what we have seen during the last five years has been a sharp rise in all forms of atrocities perpetuated against women. The brunt of the negative impact of the economic policies is being borne by working women.
Electoral Reforms:
It had promised electoral reforms to curb both the excessive use of money and muscle power. It has singularly failed to bring forward any proposal during these last five years.

Foreign Policy:
It has promised the strengthening of the non-aligned foreign policy of our country. The last five years have seen unashamed succumbing to pressures of US imperialism in matters of defence including the beginning of hitherto unknown military pacts with the USA. Its vacillation in the foreign policy have seen Indian troops acting under UN/US commands in various parts of the world violating the accepted Indian principals of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. In fact, at a time when US imperialism is attempting to impose its New World Order, India's traditional anti-imperialist voice in international fora was missing. As one of the leaders of the NAM, India during these five years, miserably failed to discharge its anti-imperialist duties.

It short, on each and every promise that the Congress had made to the people five years ago the results have been quite opposite. As a consequence the living conditions of the people have worsened, the country's unity and security further threatened and economic sovereignty and self-reliance further jeopardised.

Corruption - Order of the Day:

These five years have seen totally unprecedented levels of institutionalised corruption. The hallmark of the Narasimha Rao regime has been the exponential growth of both the number of scams and the amount looted through them. No area was left untouched, no stone unturned to loot public assets by the criminal ruling party politician-businessman-bureaucrat nexus.

The Rao government began its tenure by stalling the Bofors investigation that is not complete till date. Then came the bank scam, the disinvestment of public sector scam, the sugar scam, Bailadila mine deal, Enron deal, Railway- ABB deal, telecom scam and finally the hawala scam. For the first time since independence, as many as 15 ministers of the Rao cabinet were forced to resign under a cloud. There are many other scams as well - St. Kitts, Goldstar etc. Chandraswami continues to be a free man due to political patronage. The very fact that the Rao government that assumed office as a minority government turned itself into a majority by organising defections using its money power speaks volumes. Moral and material corruption has become the order of the day.

The Congress party is now a political party with no internal democracy and plagued by internecine quarrels; it has turned itself into an organisation whose leadership is abandoning all commitment to the national cause.

Defeat Congress - Defeat Hawala Government

The only answer to redeem the situation is to prevent the return of the Congress(I) to the helm of affairs. Defeat of the Congress signifies the safeguarding of the vision of modern independent India that we shaped during the freedom struggle.

THE COMMUNAL DANGER

Never since the partition of the country, have the communal forces mounted such an offensive as has been witnessed during the last five years. Violating all assurances to the National Integration Council, Supreme Court and to the people the BJP went ahead and organised the dastardly demolition of the Babri Masjid. This was followed by a period of worst social instability with large scale spread of communal riots, wanton killings and destruction of property. The BJP brazenly defended this action. In order to consolidate the communal forces it struck an alliance with the rabid communal and chauvinist Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.

During these five years, the BJP sought to project itself as a responsible opposition claiming to be a party with a difference. On each of the planks, it has been exposed before the people. With great fanfare it announced adherence to its policy of "Swadeshi" and even promised the electorate before the assembly elections in Maharashtra that it would cancel the dubious deal with Enron and in fact expel the MNC from the country. But as things have turned out it has not only renegotiated with Enron but has in fact facilitated greater penetration of the multinational corporation in our power sector. On every other matter of importance, policy prescription, it has gone alongwith the Congress(I) in introducing this policy of unbridled liberalisation that is undermining the economic sovereignty of our country. Its state governments pursue the same policies leading to the worsening of people's living conditions.

It had projected itself as a party with a different culture distinct from the self-seeking politicians and opportunistic elements that have gathered in the Congress. However, the whole exercise in Gujarat and the internal bickering in the Party in other states where it is in power have shown that its leadership is also replete with people of the same culture as that of the Congress whose self seeking opportunism precedes the interests of the country.

Similarly, with its highest leadership involved in the hawala scandal it has shown itself as a party that is no different from the Congress as far as looting the country is concerned.

With this track record, the communal forces in the recent period once again seek to mount an offensive spreading deeper the poison of hatred against the minorities in order to garner more votes. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has issued a blue print for Hindu Rashtra while whipping up the campaign for the destruction of the mosques in Kashi and Mathura. The other outfits of the RSS are also active in organising various activities towards this end. Its state government in Maharashtra has abolished the Minorities Commission. It also wound up the Srikrishna Commission enquiring into the Bombay riots, brazenly patronising criminal communal elements.

Defeat BJP -- Defeat Communal Forces

In the background of these developments and considering the fact that the BJP had emerged in the last elections as the major opposition in parliament and in power in four state legislatures, it still represents the most consolidated danger to the very unity and integrity of our country. It is out to destroy the very social fabric that composes India. it is therefore necessary that this communal challenge be squarely met with and that these forces be defeated in the coming elections.

ROLE OF THE CPI (M)

The consistent, principled and firm role of the CPI (M) and the Left in maintaining the unity of our country against all divisive and communal onslaughts is there before the people.

The CPI(M) has been in the forefront in the struggle against communalism. West Bengal and Kerala, are like oasis of harmony in the otherwise desert of communal strife. CPI(M) has been the staunchest defender of national unity. In Punjab alone more than 200 CPI(M) members, the best of patriots in contemporary India, were martyred in the struggle against terrorism. In Kashmir and elsewhere, the CPI(M) has been in the forefront championing the unity of India in countering the separatist forces. It has earnestly defended the concept of social justice and the rights of the backward castes, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes. During the last five years, the CPI(M) and the Left have been in the forefront in opposing the new economic policies that are bartering away the sovereignty of our country.

The CPI(M) initiated the strengthening of Left unity in the present situation. The Left alone with its consistency and firmness can meet the challenges before the people. During these years, this unity in people's struggles, whether on the question of the opposition to the GATT 1994, privatisation of public sector or the question of attacks on the rights of the working people, it is the left led mass organisations that have led the united resistance including four all India industrial strike and big mass actions.

Role of CPI (M) Led Left Front Governments:

It stark contrast to the record of the Congress(I) and the BJP governments has been that of the Left Front government in West Bengal which for 19 long years has been in power with its mandate being renewed in every subsequent election. It has provided the most stable government independent India has ever seen and during this period working people of West Bengal have achieved unprecedented gains. It has been the outpost of communal harmony and staunchest protector of the rights of the minorities. Its record in the implementation of land reforms, protection of the rights of the working people, decentralisation of power to the panchayats, consolidation of the panchayati rai structure and taking democracy to the grass roots have all been achievements unparalleled elsewhere during the last five years.

Tripura, under the Left Front rule has emerged distinct from the rest of the North East because of the role of the CPI (M) in maintaining the unity of the tribal and non-tribal people in Tripura, protecting the interests of the tribal community and safeguarding their rights.

If Kerala today has some of the best social development indicators in India like literacy, health etc. it is because of the foundations laid by the communist led governments in the past. Of particular significance are the land reforms initiated and implemented by the Left. Whenever the CPI(M) led governments were voted to office they have left their mark through their policies and practice.

Elect CPI(M) Candidates

Above all, in the existing morass of corruption, criminalisation and moral degeneration it is the CPI(M) and the Left that have emerged most credible. It is with the above record that the CPI(M) is appealing to the Indian people to rise to the occasion in these grave circumstances to defeat the Congress(I) and the BJP.

Vote Left Secular Democratic Forces

The discontent amongst the people against Congress policies is growing rapidly. On the other hand this growing discontent is being sought to be exploited by the communal forces for their political gains.

The people of our country, however, have voted, as in the last round of assembly elections, against the Congress and BJP wherever the Left, democratic and secular forces presented an alternative.

In this background, it becomes imperative for every patriot to defeat the Congress and the BJP and in their place elect Left secular, democratic candidates to the 11th Lok Sabha so that India can be saved today in order to change it for the better tomorrow.

ELECTION PROGRAMME

Taking into account the multi-dimensional crisis that is afflicting the country and the people, the CPI(M) places before the electorate the following programme of demands as a part of its election platform. The electoral platform must be a part of the wider political struggle to achieve these demands which will strengthen democracy, secularism, national unity; strive for economic and social justice for the toiling people and to eradicate the curse of corruption.

Economy

1. Safeguard the country's economic sovereignty and strengthen its self-reliance; reverse the policies of unbridled liberalisation which undermine our sovereignty.

2. Stop privatisation of public sector; revise telecom, power policies, stop privatisation of financial sector; streamline public sector enterprises, provide them autonomy from bureaucratic controls and ensure workers participation in management.

3. Curb price rise and ensure food security by expanding the public distribution system bringing into its ambit 14 essential commodities and reduce prices by 50 percent; reduce issue price of foodgrains.

4. Reverse the present industrial policy; new policy to strengthen indigenous industry and domestic capacities; end to preferential treatment to foreign investors; entry of foreign capital to be decided on national priorities and technology needs,

5. No. amendment of the Indian Patent Act of 1970 which will erode India's sovereign right to develop domestic R & D.

Right of the Working people

6. Ensuring need based minimum wages for workers, protective legislation for unorganized workers; protection of labour from severe exploitation; protection of employment and emoluments and inflation linked increase in wages; Report of the fifth pay commission for Government employees to be expedited and implemented.

7. Recognition of Trade Unions through secret ballot.

8. Granting of pension to working people as a third benefit; one-rank-one -pension for ex-servicemen; upgrading pensions of all categories of pensioners in consonance with the cost of living; protection of the rights of handicapped employees.

9. Handloom Weavers: Yarn to be provided at control rate for weavers and provide adequate infrastructure for the marketing of their goods.

Improving Living Conditions

10. Guarantee right to work as a fundamental right; release accumulated food stocks to start food-for work programmes to generate employment.

11. Increase allocation for basic health and santitation. Stop privatisation of health facilities; ensure provision of drinking water to all villages and for the control of preventable diseases.

12. Increase allocation on education and mass literacy. Stop privatisation and commercialisation of education; the allocation must be at least 10 percent of the national budget and 30 percent of the state budgets; free and compulsory education must be guaranteed by law for all children upto the age of 14 years; syllabus and curriculum to strengthen scientific temper, secularism, national unity and integrity.

13. Housing to be accorded the status of basic right; housing schemes for urban and rural poor to be implemented as an urgent priority.

14. A proper water resource policy to prevent the annual scourge of floods and droughts; immediate and adequate relief for those affected by these.

Agrarian Sector

15. Implementation of land reforms by plugging loopholes in the law and distribution of land; reversal of laws brought in due to the new economic policies diluting the land reform provisions; creation of authentic land reform records; security of tenure for tenants; provision of homestead land for rural poor.

16. Greater plan allocation for spread of irrigation; proper schemes for crop insurance.

17. Central legislation protecting the rights of agricultural workers, their wages, living conditions and social benefits.

18. Proper facilities for assistance to producers of traditional crops and protection of markets and sources of raw material.

19. Expansion of credit facilities for the poor peasantry and agricultural labour.

20. Fishermen: No licences for deep sea fishing to foreign companies and joint ventures. Protect rights of fishing people.

Social Justice

21. Prevention of atrocities against scheduled castes; end to discrimination and strict implementation of laws guaranteeing equality ;

22. Prevention of atrocities against tribals; protection of land, culture and language of tribal people; granting of autonomy for compact contiguous tribal majority areas within the framework of the existing states.

23. Implementation of reservations for scheduled casts/ scheduled tribes and backward classes. Within reservation for OBCs implement creamy layer principle so that needy sections are benefited most. If vacancies exist after application of creamy layer criteria then they should be filled up by candidates from within the same communities. Reservation to be extended to Christians from converted scheduled castes.

Women

24. Protection of the rights of women, stringent measures against atrocities and crimes against women, implementation of legal and democratic rights guaranteed in the constitution; increasing opportunities for employment and ensuring no discrimination in the pay, recruitment and promotion; equal rights in property and land for women; issuing of joint pattas for ownership.

25. Equal legal rights for women of all communities; joint matrimonial property rights; registration of marriage to be made compulsory.

26. One-third of the seats in legislatures and parliament be reserved for women.

27. Children: Suitable legislation to prevent sexual abuse of children; abolition of child labour; adequate child-care facilities at work place.

Strengthen Secularism

28. Immediate legislation separating religion from politics.

29. Transfer of all cases connected with the Ayodhya dispute to the supreme court under article 138(2) for a speedy verdict which will be binding on all sides.

30. Strict implementation of the status quo of religious places as of 15th August, 1947.

31. Protection of just rights of the minorities; implement the provisions of the constitution to prevent discrimination; strengthening security of the life and property of the minorities; backwards amongst the minorities be given OBC reservations; protection of Urdu language.

Strengthen parliamentary democracy

32. Immediately set in motion the process of bringing forward a legislation for comprehensive electoral reforms to ensure the elimination of money and muscle power from elections on the basis of the Dinesh Goswami Committee's report; amend sec 77 of the Representation of People Act to plug loopholes in enforcing ceiling on election expenditure of candidates.

33. To check corruption, the immediate setting up of Lok Pal bringing in its purview the prime minister; to be appointed by an authority constituting representatives of the executive, legislature and judiciary; streamline functioning of investigation agencies, protect them from political interference; ensure speedy disposal and appropriate action.

34. Strict action against all manifestations of criminalisation of politics.

35. Proportional representation in the electoral system.

36. Reforms in judicial system to provide easy and speedy relief to the common people.

Federalism and Decentralisation

37. Restructuring Centre-state relations with more powers to the states; legislative measures to ensure balanced economic development to overcome regional imbalances.

38. Devolution of finances to the states ending overcentralisation of resources at the Centre.

39. Protection of the Rajya Sabha as the "Council of States" to defend the federal structure of our constitution; it members must belong to the states they are elected from.

40. Decentralisation of democracy to the grassroots; proper devolution of power to the panchayats; strengthen panchayat raj institutions; financial assistance to panchayats to flow through state governments.

Defend National Unity

41. Immediate announcement of political solution for the Kashmir problem which must include defence of article 370 and a review of the erosion which has taken place since 1953 by the elected state assembly; granting maximum autonomy within the framework of the Indian constitution; compensation and adequate measures for those displaced from the state and a comprehensive economic package for development, generating employment opportunities.

Foreign Policy

42. Defence of the non-aligned foreign policy; world peace and spirit of national independence; firm resistance against US imperialist attempts to impose its New World Order; strengthen international anti-imperialist solidarity; strengthen South-South corporation; rebuff imperialist efforts to subvert our independent development and resistance to its attempts to impose its NPT and CTBT; Cancellation of the military cooperation pact with USA.

Culture and Media

43. State support for expansion of cultural facilities, encouragement of activities aimed to take democratic culture to the mass of the people.

44. Implement autonomy for the official electronic media updating the Prasar Bharati Act provisions; Legislation to prevent growth of monopolies in print and electronic media which is inherently undemocratic; no foreign ownership of print media; ensure states have say in media policy and control on Doordarshan and AIR

Science

45. Science and technology policy which encourages creative work, scientific temper and strengthens the self-reliant basis of India's development.

Environment

46. An environment policy which is integrated with the needs of rapid and sustainable economic development; stringent action against contractors illegally cutting down forests; strict pollution control against industries using hazardous technology which affect health of workers, the neighbourhood; provision of adequate rehabilitation package for persons displaced by development projects, particularly for adivasis who are most affected.

It is on the basis of such a programme that the CPI(M) appeals to the Indian people to defeat the Congress(I) and the BJP and vote for the Left, democratic and secular candidates in the coming elections.

The dangers being faced by the country today demand of every patriotic citizen a response that they owe both to the montherland and to themselves. The CPI(M) with its decades long record of consistent and selfless commitment to defend our country's unity and integrity and to advance people's welfare has, during these last five years, been in the forefront of people's struggles facing all the grave challenges. Its increased representation in the parliament, strengthening of the Left in parliament and the combination of the Left, democratic and secular forces alone can today further the struggle to face the challenge of safeguarding our country and championing the people's interests.

The Indian people have at all crucial moments shown a high degree of patriotism and strong sense of secular unity in rejecting those who betray the country's interests and the people's unity. The betrayers must be rejected in totality. This opportunity must be fully utilised and the CPI(M) calls upon the electorate to come forward in unprecedented numbers to ensure the defence of a democratic, secular, federal, modern India in order to take it on a path of prosperity, unity and integrity.

The Manifestos