ECI derecognising CPI as National Party - Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy (Former General Secretary, CPI)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4MUB0MfrNg

‘National Party’ status by ECI is only a technicality. A national party is one that has active units leading movements across the country. CPI has units in all states and union territories except Sikkim & Nagaland and its cadres are leading active movements across the country. So CPI is a national party with an unmatched organisational network irrespective of ECI technicality. ECI technical requirement has given national party status to parties that have no Lok Sabha seats and to those who have organisation in few adjoining states. Despite recent electoral setbacks, currently CPI has members in both Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha and, CPI is part of ruling alliances in three states, has 21 members in legislative assemblies and members in legislative councils apart from thousands of elected representatives in local bodies spread over 26 states and 9 union territories. CPI has 6.5 lakh active committed members working for the party and over 20 million followers. CPI has a proud history and a scientific way forward for a better society. Though parliamentary democracy is an important part of political activity, CPI will continue its struggles in all forms with renewed vigour and bounce back like it has done many times before from tougher conditions. It shook the foundations of the British empire even when it was banned. In the first General Elections CPI candidates Raavi Narayana Reddy & Sunkam Achalu contested for Lok Sabha from inside jail and got the highest majority in India. Despite the dismissal of the CPI led first democratically elected communist government in the world, it pushed through land reforms and strengthening of public sector that have changed the social foundations of India. When caste and communal groups started to dominate Indian politics, CPI started fighting them head-on to save our secular constitution. Even in toughest conditions our comrades successfully led movements to achieve 8 hour work day and weekly off, earned leaves, etc. A true Communist Party is an International Party and Indias first Communist Party, CPI will bounce back by continuing to strive to create a better nation for every Indian - a nation where based on economic status of the family of birth, does not determine what education you will be able to buy and how much health care you can afford and resultantly how long you can live. We have a historical responsibility to fight hindutva forces and save secularism and constitutional democratic fabric of the Nation.