Since the month of January, Bihar is witnessing a major political campaign organised by CPI(ML) in the lines of historic Badlo Bihar Nyay Yatra that marched across the state with clarion call for justice in month of October last year. Badlo Bihar Samagam, in form of conclaves across the state and a padayatra in Seemanchal region (Badlo Bihar Nyay Yatra- Seemanchal) were organised as part of the ongoing campaign to transform Bihar and ensure justice and people’s rights. These segments of the campaign against twenty years of Nitish misrule will culminate in a Badlo Bihar Mahajutaan (mass gathering) rally to be held in Patna on 2 March 2025.
Badlo Bihar Samagam
Samagams or citizen conclaves were organised across the organised across Bihar from 18 January onwards to highlight major issues affecting people witnessed participation of struggling people ranging from victims of microfinance companies and Scheme workers to farmer leaders, trade unions, youth and teachers. After twenty years of Nitish rule in Bihar poverty is at extreme levels. 92 lakh families in the state could not earn even Rs 6000 in a month. People’s urge for a complete change in these inhuman situations and injustice was evident in their huge participation in these Samagams held at regional level in all parts of Bihar. Here are some brief reports of these conclaves.
Munger Samagam: The Munger conclave was held on January 18 where many representatives of trade unions and mass organisations, along with activists from Adivasi Sangharsh Morcha shared their issues and resolved to work towards ousting Nitish-BJP government in the coming elections.
Patna Samagam: In a significant gathering held in Patna on January 19, CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya addressed the Badlo Bihar Samagam (Transform Bihar Conclave), a platform that brought together representatives of social movements, civil society, and ordinary citizens. This became an united platform for people’s movements. Dipankar Bhattacharya highlighted the repression accompanying Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s so-called Pragati Yatra (Progress Journey), which he termed a "Yatra of Repression." “No one can approach or petition the Chief Minister without facing extreme crackdown. On one side, we have the struggle to transform Bihar, and on the other, a desperate, repressive campaign to retain power,” he said.
The conclave concluded with the adoption of the following eight-point resolution:
To uphold communal harmony and equality, resolving to build a prosperous and just Bihar where dignity, rights, and justice are guaranteed for all.
Calls for the unity of all socio-economic groups and civil society to build a wave of struggles that can transform Bihar, making the 2 March Mahajutan an emblem of collective resistance.
Condemning the BJP-RSS’s attacks on India’s Constitution and democracy, denouncing statements by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat undermining India’s independence and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks against Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Condemning the government’s repression of BPSC aspirants, scheme workers, and its use of the Pragati Yatra to spread fear.
Calls for the implementation of government promises, including Rs. 2 lakh grants, 5 decimal housing land, and permanent housing for all poor families. Demands regularisation of Dalit and marginalised settlements and ownership rights for landless communities. Calls for halting the ongoing land survey in Bihar.
Demands an end to exploitative smart electricity meters, free 200 units of electricity. Call for agriculture and the poor, and wage guarantees and increase for over 10 lakh scheme workers. End to the exploitation by microfinance companies and the immediate return of Sahara investors' money.
Demands the inclusion of the expansion of reservations for Dalits and backward communities in Bihar under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution and the conduction of a nationwide caste census.
The gathering calls for the revival of closed sugar, jute, paper, and cotton mills, along with other industries, and the creation of a detailed action plan to establish a chain of agriculture-based industries. It also demands special status for Bihar to help the state break free from the vicious cycle of poverty.
Gaya Samagam: This conclave was held on 23 January, was attended by leaders of Jeevika cadres, microfinance debt trapped women, minority community members, ASHA workers, workers of Lohia Swachhata mission, many trade unions, peasant leaders, youth, students and teachers as well as common citizens.
Shahabad Samagam: On the eve of Republic Day, January 25, Shahabad regional conclave was held in Nagari Pracharini auditorium in Arrah town. Dozens of organisations from the region were present along with peasants, rural workers and a large posse of Scheme workers - ASHAs, Aanganwadi and Jeevika cadres. Attendees paid tributes to martyrs of the Freedom movement and from post-independence people’s struggles.
Muzaffarpur Samagam: Activists from many organisations from Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sitamarhi and Sheohar districts of Tirhut region attended this conclave. Presence of representatives from Bagmati Sangharsh Morcha, Sahara Bhugtan Sangharsh Morcha, Bihar State Panch-Sarpanch Sangh, Bihar Karmchari Mahasangh (Gope) and Idrishia Darzi Sagathan were prominent along with dozens of other mass organisations. Many prominent intellectuals and minority representatives also addressed this conclave.
Darbhanga Samagam: On 25 January Badlo Bihar Samagam in Darbhanga was organsied in Laheriasarai auditorium, where wide range of activists from Mithilanchal participated. This was addressed by Comrade Dipankar, Dhirendra Jha and Shashi Yadav among others. Members of progressive Electric Workers’ Union, Chikitsa Evam Jan Swasthya Karmchari Sangh, Medical college daily wage workers’ unions presented their demand charters to the organisers. Railway workers and MGNREGA Workers Union leaders also addressed this conclave. Siwan Samagam: Sanitation workers, people affected by highway construction demanding compensation, river sand mining workers’ union, ambulance drivers union, Polio courier Sangh, ASHA workers union and NREGA workers joined this conclave along with a few dozen more organisations’ representatives. Colleges in every block of the district, compensation to land acquisition victims and increase in the amounts disbursed in various welfare schemes were the major issues that came up in the conclave.
Purnea Samagam: A Seemanchal regional conclave organised on 25 January in Purnea was attended by social activists from different streams and prominent citizens besides a large number of movemental forces. Saharsa Samagam: Kosi regional conclave held on 26 January in Saharsa began by reiterating the pledge to defend the republic and the constitution.
‘Yatra’ in Seemanchal
A five-day - 100 km ‘Badlo Bihar Nyay Yatra’- Seemanchal padyatra, which started from Forbesganj on 1 February and ended in Purnea on 5 February witnessed a spirited assembly of activists and people. The foot march was led by CPIML General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya. Across Seemanchal, the yatra witnessed heightened insecurity among the rural poor who face a growing threat of displacement in the wake of the ongoing land survey. Declining opportunities of local employment drive the youth into migration to faraway states in search of livelihood, turning the region into a captive export zone of cheap labour. The infrastructure of public education and health remains woefully inadequate. Maize and Makhana (water lily or foxnuts) have emerged as the main items of agricultural production, but the people involved in this activity do not earn enough either by way of crop price or wages. And with little facilities for further processing and lack of necessary agro-based industries, the region does not benefit much from this local production. The yatra concluded with a convention in the Kala Bhawan in Purnea after paying homage to Babasaheb Ambedkar at Ambedkar Sadan and Comrade Ajit Sarkar, the popular communist leader of this region and MLA from Purnea who was killed in 1998.
Convention: 75 Years of Republic
A civil society convention on ‘75 Years of Republic: Challenges for Bihar’ was held in Patna on 12 February. Dipankar Bhattacharya, Delhi University teacher Ratan Lal, Dr. Laxman Yadav, Navin Kumar of Article19, Dr. Chintu Kumari, activist Vandana Prabha, Insaf Manch president Gopal Ravidas and Prof. Shamim Alam addressed the convention which was conducted by Sandip Saurav.
Comrade Dipankar said after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections the urge for transformation of Bihar gained strength with rising voices of struggling forces. The BJP desperately tried to capture and divert people’s resentment through its divisive agenda but Bihar is determined to move on a firm footing with concrete issues.
Navin Kumar of Article19 said the whole world is facing a crisis that demands bigger struggles for dignity by the masses. Dr. Laxman Yadav said the country is on the verge of losing the gains of 75 years of independence. We see the constitution openly being subverted in Uttar Pradesh, at the same time Bihar, the land of social justice and peasant movements, gives us hope.
Prof. Ratan Lal criticised dalit leaders inside the NDA for their indifference on the question of employment and education of dalits. They are pulling the Hindutva cart at the cost of dalit unity and rights, he added.
Gopal Ravidas shared his own experience of being a dalit leader. He said even after being elected as MLA he had to face insults from upper caste people. The sorry plight of working women and Scheme workers in Bihar was discussed by Chintu Kumari. Vandana Prabha criticised the Bihar government as the latter tries to limit the existence of common citizens and women into scheme beneficiaries undermining their equal rights and freedoms. Prof. Shamim Alam said we must protect our syncretic culture against the attacks of fascists. Kamlesh Sharma thanked the audience that included a good number of teachers, lawyers and social activists.
