Addressing a function here, the CEC spoke in favour of reforms like auditing the accounts of political parties and ensuring that donations given to them are subject to checks but claimed there was resistance from political parties on these issues.

He said the biggest challenge for the Indian democracy is criminalisation of politics and black money.

“Criminals in politics and use of black money during elections are an embarrassment. Due to these two factors India is not able to become the greatest democracy in the world,” he said.

“Two basic reforms for the political parties I think would be that their transactions be made by cheque and their accounts should be audit by independent accountants appointed by the Election Commission of India,” Mr. Quraishi said.

He said that a discussion is needed to arrive at a conclusion on these issues as there is resistance from political parties.

On right to recall, he said, “It sounds good, but it not a practical idea. There are so many disgruntled people who can manipulate it. We all know how easy it to collect signatures against a particular candidate.”

Mr. Quraishi said that the idea is not feasible as, “Political parties are facing elections after an interval of every two or so years. For example, Samajwadi Party would be gearing up to face the voters for Lok Sabha election in 2014 again, which is much before its five year term.”

Sensing an opportunity in national politics, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday saw the emergence of Left and democratic forces as an alternative to occupy the space being created by the failure of coalitions led by the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. “The recent political developments showed the failure of the two combinations – the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) and the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) – to consolidate. The Assembly elections to the five States have reflected this trend. As more and more, the bankruptcy and venality of the present order becomes apparent, the people are looking for an alternative…[and] can be provided only by the Left and democratic forces”, party general secretary Prakash Karat said in his inaugural address at the 20th Party Congress in Kozhikode. Taking on the Congress and the BJP for pursuing neo-liberalism, he said there is little to choose between either party on corruption, considering the alleged nexus of the BJP-led Karnataka government with mining mafia and the Congress-led Central government with the 2G spectrum allocation scandal. While endorsing the need for an effective Lokpal Bill to curb corruption among public servants, he said the fight should also be directed against the neo-liberal regime. He promised that the CPI(M) will bring in a whole range of measures including electoral reforms to help curb money power in politics. The party and its leadership is clear that the brick and mortar for an alternative would come from first strengthening CPI(M) – expanding its base and influence across the country, working for Left unity – and then rallying other democratic forces to prepare a Left and democratic platform that can challenge the existing political arrangement. The futility of the Congress and the BJP to convert the national political arena into a two-party system was underscored by veteran Communist leader A.B. Bardhan, who said the people were not ‘falling prey’ to such an attempt. In his speech, Mr. Karat mentioned losses in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, but refrained from reiterating reasons behind it. He said the party has examined and identified the shortcomings in the political and organisational sphere and taken steps to correct them. He said the party had a solid mass base in West Bengal and was willing to counter the violence unleashed against its workers and supporters. On the ideological clarity the Congress seeks to give to the party, Mr. Karat said: “The CPI(M) has always believed in applying Marxism-Leninism to concrete conditions of India, to chalk out its revolutionary path. We have never tried to emulate models abroad. We have to constantly update our ideological understanding and equip ourselves to meet the challenges of the contemporary era”. Starting Wednesday, the party over the next five days will discuss draft political, ideological and organisation issues. The last session is slated to discuss for the first time an amendment to its Constitution setting a three-term limit for members, who occupy the post of secretary from the local to central committee level.  (courtsey: Ganashakti)

The first Communist Ministry in Kerala was formed on 5th April 1957 with Com. EMS Namboodiripad as Chief Minister. The Government introduced and passed  a lot of important legislations on land reforms, education etc.

That Government was one of the best government Kerala has ever seen. But the Central Government could not tolerate even a state being under the rule of another party. It tried all tricks to get some MLAs to defect from the government, but utterly failed even to get one MLA. At last with the money from USA etc. as also the support of the religious leaders and disgruntled elements, organised a ‘Vimochan Samaram’, but even then nothing could happen. At last the Central Government misusing its draconian poers dismissed it on flimsy gropunds.

But again after a few years Communissts got elected and formed another Communist ministry. Whether winning or losing in the elections, it is is the single biggest party in Kerala.

Sensing an opportunity in national politics, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday saw the emergence of Left and democratic forces as an alternative to occupy the space being created by the failure of coalitions led by the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. “The recent political developments showed the failure of the two combinations – the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) and the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) – to consolidate. The Assembly elections to the five States have reflected this trend. As more and more, the bankruptcy and venality of the present order becomes apparent, the people are looking for an alternative…[and] can be provided only by the Left and democratic forces”, party general secretary Prakash Karat said in his inaugural address at the 20th Party Congress in Kozhikode. Taking on the Congress and the BJP for pursuing neo-liberalism, he said there is little to choose between either party on corruption, considering the alleged nexus of the BJP-led Karnataka government with mining mafia and the Congress-led Central government with the 2G spectrum allocation scandal. While endorsing the need for an effective Lokpal Bill to curb corruption among public servants, he said the fight should also be directed against the neo-liberal regime. He promised that the CPI(M) will bring in a whole range of measures including electoral reforms to help curb money power in politics. The party and its leadership is clear that the brick and mortar for an alternative would come from first strengthening CPI(M) – expanding its base and influence across the country, working for Left unity – and then rallying other democratic forces to prepare a Left and democratic platform that can challenge the existing political arrangement. The futility of the Congress and the BJP to convert the national political arena into a two-party system was underscored by veteran Communist leader A.B. Bardhan, who said the people were not ‘falling prey’ to such an attempt. In his speech, Mr. Karat mentioned losses in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, but refrained from reiterating reasons behind it. He said the party has examined and identified the shortcomings in the political and organisational sphere and taken steps to correct them. He said the party had a solid mass base in West Bengal and was willing to counter the violence unleashed against its workers and supporters. On the ideological clarity the Congress seeks to give to the party, Mr. Karat said: “The CPI(M) has always believed in applying Marxism-Leninism to concrete conditions of India, to chalk out its revolutionary path. We have never tried to emulate models abroad. We have to constantly update our ideological understanding and equip ourselves to meet the challenges of the contemporary era”. Starting Wednesday, the party over the next five days will discuss draft political, ideological and organisation issues. The last session is slated to discuss for the first time an amendment to its Constitution setting a three-term limit for members, who occupy the post of secretary from the local to central committee level.Courtsey: Ganashakti)