Don't treat Cong lightly and work hard for BJP's win LS polls: Vijayendra to partymen
Bengaluru (PTI): Asserting that there is a pro-BJP wave in the state and country, the party's state chief B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday called on cadres to work unitedly for its victory in the Lok Sabha polls, and not take the opposition lightly at a time when the Congress is ruling the state.
He was speaking at the first meeting of the state unit's new office bearers at the party office here.
"In every election, there are different types of challenges. We must not take our opponents lightly, if we are to successfully meet those challenges," Vijayendra said, pointing out that the Congress is in government in Karnataka.
He requested party members to ensure that the pro-people programmes of the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi reach the people.
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Vijayendra, who was appointed as the state BJP chief on November 10, had appointed new office bearers to the party on December 23.
Highlighting the achievements and programmes of the Modi government, the BJP state president said that party workers should help take central government schemes to the doorsteps of the people.
He said that every election, right from the zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat elections and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls as well as the legislative council elections should be taken seriously and "we should step forward to give strength to our party workers".
Noting that this responsibility has come at a very important time, he further said, "We should all be responsible and perform our duty. What is most important for us is the time at which we have got this responsibility."
The BJP and JD(S) will fight the Lok Sabha elections together and the goal is to win all 28 seats in the state, Vijayendra said.
Calling the ruling Congress "power drunk", he said, "Along with giving a suitable answer to the Congress party, we have to work towards strengthening Narendra Modi's hands... We have to send a message that Karnataka is not just a BJP stronghold in South India, it is also a secure fort."
Suggesting that the challenge before BJP workers is not a big one, Vijayendra said there is a pro-Modi atmosphere in the country and state, and he is also very popular.
He advised party office bearers to focus on converting Modi's popularity into votes and get going right away.
"The question of resting should not arise. Until the next Lok Sabha elections are over, we should not have Sundays, festivals, holidays...," he said.
"There should not be a question of us resting till the target of Lok Sabha elections is reached. Narendra Modi has been serving the country continuously for the last nine-and-a-half years without rest, so we should work together as one," Vijayendra addec, urging partymen to work as one team under the banner of Hindutva, without any caste differences.
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Marxism will remain relevant despite Left electoral's losses, says general secretary M A Baby
New Delhi (PTI): CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby on Thursday asserted that the Left movement would remain relevant despite not being in power in any state, saying the ideology would continue to endure as long as social and economic inequalities persist.
Hitting back at BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar over his reported remarks that Marxism had become irrelevant, Baby, in an interview with PTI Videos, said, "So long as there is division in society, so long as there is exploitation of the majority of workers, peasants and ordinary masses by a handful of billionaires, Marxism will remain relevant."
"That perhaps Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar may not be able to understand, but this is the fact of the matter," he said.
Baby acknowledged that the CPI(M)-led Left was currently without an elected government in any state, but maintained that electoral setbacks would not diminish the movement's role.
"We may not have an elected government in any state. There were occasions when we didn't have a government. But the red flag and the commitment to organise and struggle for the rights of the dispossessed, marginalised and exploited will always be upheld by CPI(M) and the Left movement," he said.
He said the Left continued to enjoy support among workers, peasants, agricultural labourers, youth, students and women, and argued that the movement remained necessary because "oppression and assault" continued in society.
"So long as such problems exist in society, the red flag and the working class movement will continue to work among the masses," the Left leader said.
Exuding confidence on the Left's revival, Baby said the party would reflect on the reasons behind its electoral loss.
"We may be rejected in one election, but we will stage our comeback by understanding what went wrong with us," he said, adding, "We will listen to people and we will come back with higher strength."
Baby also criticised the Congress over reported factional tensions in Kerala after the Congress-led United Democratic Front's victory in the state.
"The way they are behaving is being watched by the people of Kerala," he said, referring to infighting within the Congress.
"Those who have given a massive majority to Congress and UDF would be watching all this," he added, while urging party leaders to "settle the problem in an amicable, democratic manner".
Referring to West Bengal, Baby alleged that violence had escalated following the BJP's victory in the state assembly polls.
"It is quite unfortunate that the moment BJP snatched a massive victory in West Bengal, violence has also started on a big scale," he said.
He also accused the Trinamool Congress of being "notorious for violent activities" and alleged that the "RSS-controlled BJP" had "unleashed violence in many places" after the election results.
"This is not good for Bengal, not good for the country. We wish and hope that normalcy would be restored as soon as possible," he said.
Baby said the CPI(M) and the Left in West Bengal would continue efforts to "pacify people" and avoid violence and confrontation.
Asked about former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan not reacting publicly to the election results, Baby said Vijayan would respond "at an appropriate time".
