Srinagar, July 01: The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday said the results of the 18th Lok Sabha elections constitute a significant setback for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“The people of India, in defense of the Constitution and democratic values, have ensured that the BJP does not receive a majority, unlike in the last two Lok Sabha elections,” the party said in a statement issued here, adding,” The BJP’s tall claims of winning 400-plus seats were shattered, and it secured only 240 seats, a loss of 63 seats from its previous tally.”
The Central Committee condemned the BJP’s alleged attempts to reassert its dominance through communal polarisation and attacks on minority communities. “Since the election results, there have been numerous incidents of violence against Muslims, including killings, property damage, and intimidation. The CPI(M) urges all party units to remain vigilant against such attempts and organize protest actions against these vicious attacks,” the statement said.
The CPI(M) also condemned the government’s continued use of central agencies to target opposition leaders and institutions. It opposed the Modi government’s plans to implement “draconian laws”, referring to the new criminal laws. “These laws are aimed at curbing dissent and suppressing civil liberties. The party demands that the implementation of these laws be put on hold due to their regressive and draconian nature,” the statement said.
The Central Committee expressed deep concern over the examination scandals surrounding the National Testing Agency (NTA). The party demanded that the Union Education Minister resign forthwith and that the NTA be disbanded. “The education system be decentralised and not commercialized,” it added.
The Central Committee also approved a timetable for holding party conferences at all levels from September 2024 leading up to the 24th Party Congress scheduled for April 2025.
