Kannur: The plight of the CPM in West Bengal and Tripura, where the party used to be a ruling party for years together, is more pathetic than what the party has officially stated hitherto.
The organisational report to be presented by CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechuri at the Party Congress here is going to underscore this aspect.
Another assessment in the organisational report is that besides a section of party cadres, a large chunk of people from among the main supporting base of the party such as labourers, peasants, and agriculture workers are distancing themselves from the party. Many of those who remain in the party are lying dormant.
After the last Party Congress, 48,096 members left the party in West Bengal and 47,378 in Tripura. The States of West Bengal and Tripura mainly contributed to the total 3.85 per cent attrition in the party membership reported at the national level.
But at the same time, there has been a steady increase in the Kerala unit's membership figures during the period. As many as 63,702 people were given membership in Kerala.
A dip of 39,505 party cadres was reported at the national level. During the time of the last Party Congress, there were 10,25,352 party members. But it came down to 9,85,757 now.
The report says that in Bengal and Tripura, the party's very existence is in danger and the situation is unprecedented.
The administration's suppression and witch-hunting are cited as the reasons for the desertion of party workers in these States.
Goa is the State where the party has the least number of cadres. Earlier, the number was 51 and now it has been reduced to 45.
In Telangana, there was a dip of 2,993 members. In Andhra, there was a reduction of 3,436 members.
Decline in quality of members
There was also a decline in the quality of party members during the period.
The strict monitoring and assessments at the time of the renewal of membership are done only in a few States like Kerala, Bengal, Tripura and Andhra.
In other States, guidelines issued by the Calcutta Plenum are not strictly implemented.
According to the report, almost 35 per cent of the total members of 1,60,827 in the Bengal unit are remaining dormant. In Tripura, only 42 per cent of members are attending party programmes and agitations.
In these two States, there is a drastic reduction in the number of youths coming to the party fold. More youths are getting attracted to the party only in Kerala and Jharkhand.
Almost one lakh labourers have distanced themselves from the party in Bengal. In Tripura, almost 88,567 labourers said goodbye to the party.
As per the records, almost 3.48 lakh farmers have distanced themselves from the party in Tripura. In Bengal, the farmers who have left the party fold are estimated to be 12.5 lakh.
In Bengal, almost 2.36 agriculture labourers severed ties with the party while in Tripura it is 1.5 lakh.
