On 15 March, Lok Raj Sangathan organised an important consultative meeting in Dadar (E), Mumbai. Activists of more than a dozen organisations attended the meeting.

In his opening remarks Dr. Mathew welcomed the assembled delegates and proposed the agenda that included 1) all participating organizations presenting their views on the People’s Agenda as an alternative to the agenda of the ruling capitalist clas; 2) the possibility of fielding People’s Candidates for the coming Lok Sabha Elections; and 3) how the different organizations would work together to further this agenda.

An outline of the people’s program was presented by Lok Raj Sanghathan representatives, Dr. Sanjeewani and Dr. Bharat. The alternative program would have, as its main aim, to bring the masses of the Indian people to the centre stage of politics, to reorient the Indian economy to give primacy to fulfilling the needs of the people, and to oppose all interference in the Indian subcontinent by the US and other imperialist powers. It was explained that there could be only two programs, one for defending the status quo with some minor cosmetic changes, and the other for a deep-rooted change, to transform the Indian political scene and economic orientation in favour of the majority of the Indian people.

Com Tyagi of SUCI, Com Deshpande of CPI, Com Kutty of All India Defence Employees Federation, Salil of Citizen’s Initiative for Peace, Com Pritpal of Lok Shahi Haqq Sangathan, Com Sandip of CGPI, Com Jaukar of C.P.W.D. Workers Union and member of Central Organizing Committee of Central Government Employees Unions, Com Subroto of KEC, Com Haldankar of All India Youth Federation, Com Ade of Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes Association, Kusum of PMS, Com Gohil of CPI(ML)Liberation and Shekhar Kapure of  Ladaku Garment Mazdoor Sangh, all spoke in support of the People’s Program and gave valuable suggestions. It was decided that the People’s Program should be prepared based on the suggestions from the various organisations. Another meeting was called on 20th March to finalize the program.

Next, Com Suryakant Shinge, whose name has been proposed by the Lok Raj Sangathan as well as the garment workers as a People’s Candidate from Mumbai South, presented his views.  He explained how the elections provided an opportunity to go among the people and rouse them against the capitalists’ agenda of shifting the burden of the severe economic crisis onto the backs of the people. He said that as the People’s Candidate, he would give an undertaking to the people that if elected he would render regular accounts to the constituency committee. He would also respect the people’s right to recall him if he did not work as per the wishes of this committee. Many of the participants recounted Com Suryakant’s contribution in organizing and fighting for the rights of the unorganized workers in the garment-manufacturing sector in Mumbai. Everyone supported the new politics which Suryakant’s candidature represented.

The meeting concluded on a highly positive note, with the activists determined to use the coming Lok Sabha Elections to advance the cause of the working people through the new politics.