CPM to launch state-wide campaign against political defections

Nashik: Taking a strong note of current political situations in the state, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) has from Monday announced a massive state-wide campaign to protest against frequent party switches by the elected representatives.Ajit Nawale, CPM state secretary, criticized the trend of Member of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) changing political sides. He said that this culture of splitting the parties through enticements or intimidation has significantly weakened democratic institutions and fueled intense anger and dissatisfaction among the public.Questioning the candidacy criteria used by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of which the CPM is the part of, Nawale said, “Election nominations are frequently awarded to candidates based on an individual’s immense wealth and resources rather than their commitment to the public interest.

Such individuals often prioritize protecting their personal interests and businesses over ideology and frequently switch sides to join the ruling party post-election.

The parties should reevaluate these practices.”The upcoming state-wide campaign by the CPM will focus on public mobilization through organizing protests and demonstrations to highlight the actions of defecting MLAs and MPs. It will also demand fundamental changes to the existing election system to curb corruption and focus on maintaining institutional integrity by ensuring strict boundaries against the misuse of governmental machinery and the Election Commission during polls.The CPM has appealed to the residents of Maharashtra to actively participate in this campaign to protect democratic values and hold elected representatives accountable.