CPM goes to public for manifesto ideas
The state leadership had taken this decision to get public opinion before it comes out with the election manifesto
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-09-30 05:40 GMT
KOZHIKODE: While the party has been defending allegations that it was moving away from its grassroot level connections, the CPM state leadership has now come up with a move to take the party back to grassroot workers.
For the local body polls, the CPM has deputed its volunteers to sit at street corners with a box requesting the public to submit their suggestions to form the LDF manifesto.
The state leadership had taken this decision to get public opinion before it comes out with the election manifesto.
“This attempt is to popularise issues and to get public opinion on local issues. Local Body polls are about local government and that has to have a local flavor. So we decided to get the people to talk about what they want and what they expect from the LDF when it comes to power,” T P Ramakrishnan, CPM Kozhikode district secretary told DC.
He said the move was not because of the fear of the allegations that the party had moved away from the grassroots but to popularize its efforts.
“This is not happening only in Kozhikode but across Kerala. The party state leadership had taken this decision and it was discussed and approved in the LDF meeting. Before we release our manifesto, we wanted to know what people want from their local government,” Ramakrishnan said.
He said that while taking a decision regarding this innovative method to collect public opinion, the party did not feel guilty of the existing system where the party leadership alone worked on the election manifesto. The CPM may follow this model for the next Assembly and Parliament elections also.