23/06/2026
The two-day meetings of the State Secretariat and State Organising Committee (SOC) of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] were held on June 20 and 21, 2026, at Shaheed Bhavan, Anarkali, Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), in the presence of K. Balakrishnan, Polit Bureau Member and Party In-Charge for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The meetings reviewed the political situation in the islands and discussed the Party’s future tasks and campaigns. D. Ayyappan, Secretary of the State Organising Committee, presented the report on the functioning of the Party in the islands, while Projit Kumar Sarkar presided over the sessions. K. Balakrishnan briefed the meetings on the decisions and resolutions adopted at the Central Committee meeting of the CPI(M) held in New Delhi from May 22 to 24, 2026.
A major decision taken at the meetings was to launch a broad anti-imperialist campaign across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with special emphasis on exposing the continuing economic blockade and hostile actions of the United States against Cuba. The Party noted that the United States has intensified sanctions, threats and provocations against Cuba, causing severe hardships to its people. CPI(M) resolved to utilise all available forums to expose what it described as the aggressive and imperialist policies of the United States.
The State Organising Committee also decided to intensify efforts to organise rural workers, particularly Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) workers, in every Gram Panchayat area of the islands. Party cadres will undertake extensive door-to-door campaigns among job card holders to explain the implications of the newly introduced VB-GRAM-G scheme and mobilise workers around their rights and livelihood concerns.
The meetings resolved to conduct territory-wide campaigns in the coming months against what the Party termed the anti-people policies of the Narendra Modi-led central government. The campaigns will focus on rising prices of essential commodities, increases in petrol, diesel and LPG prices, growing unemployment, corruption, inadequate inter-island boat services, deteriorating healthcare facilities, exorbitant airfares and other issues affecting the daily lives of island residents.
The State Organising Committee further announced a month-long Party Fund Collection Campaign from August 1 to August 31, 2026. Door-to-door collections will be undertaken throughout the islands. The Party appealed to island residents to contribute generously, stating that public support is essential for continuing struggles on issues affecting the people of the islands.
Expressing serious concern over higher education policies, the meeting criticised the central government’s decision to affiliate colleges in the islands with the newly created Deemed University. CPI(M) argued that the move would adversely affect both current students and future generations. The Party demanded that all seven colleges in the islands continue to remain affiliated with Pondicherry University, which was originally established to serve the educational needs of the region.
The meetings also highlighted the worsening difficulties faced by farmers and resolved to launch separate campaigns to address agrarian issues in the islands.
The State Secretariat and State Organising Committee strongly opposed the implementation of the proposed Great Nicobar Island Project, expressing concern that the central government is proceeding despite widespread objections from environmentalists and experts. The Party warned that the project could have serious ecological consequences and reiterated its demand that environmental concerns be given priority over corporate-driven development initiatives.
The meetings concluded with a call to strengthen mass struggles, expand the Party’s organisational base and mobilise people across the islands against policies affecting workers, farmers, students and the broader public.
