: Ali Kishor Patnaik took over as the State secretary of the Odisha unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) ending the 24-year-long stint of the outgoing State Secretary, Janardhan Pati, here on Wednesday.
Mr. Patnaik, who began his public life in Student Federation of India and later joined its principal political party, CPI (M), has been associated with several farmers’ movements and land movements.
“The party will carry forward its political campaigns under collective leadership. Guidance will be provided by Mr. Pati. Our major objective is to strengthen the alternative voice in the State,” said new State Secretary of CPI (M), while addressing the press conference on Wednesday.
The new 10-member State politburo and 31-member State Committee will back Mr. Patnaik in executing the party’s political agenda as well as building up campaign concerning people’s issues during the next three years. The outgoing State secretary Mr. Pati had remained at the helm of affairs of the party for eight terms for over 24 years.
Mr. Patnaik said, “During its 14-year rule, the Biju Janata Dal has tasted electoral successes by only bribing people, but never addressed fundamental issues such as unemployment, health, education and land for landless.”
“While BJD will be opposed for its misgovernance, our core resistance against Bharatiya Janata Party, which is implementing its communal agenda after coming to power with brute majority in Centre, will be strengthened,” Mr. Patnaik announced.
During the past seven-months of rule, the BJP has only protected interests of big corporate houses while it has jeopardised social security of the poor and marginalised sections of society, he said.
Mr. Patnaik said major challenges before CPI (M) would be to put up a united front against anti-people policies of the BJD and the BJP by taking along Left parties including CPI, CPI (M) Liberation, SUCI and Forward Bloc.
