People's Democracy

 GUJARAT

 August Campaign Receives Encouraging Response

THE state secretariat and state committee did the necessary planning to run the CPI(M)’s August campaign as was called for by the Central Committee. There was planning about the details for each district committee, about the number of group meetings, street meetings culminating in rallies and at least one big mass meeting in each district.

In Sabarkantha, there was unprecedented response. On August 29, there was a mass meeting at Bhiloda in the district, where people reached from Khedbrahma, Vijayanagar, Malpur, Modasa etc, on foot as well as by tempos, trucks, tractors, jeeps and state transport buses.

The biggest chunks were especially from Idar and other nearby areas adjoining Bhiloda. Considerable numbers also came from Bamna, Bhatera, Vansol, Raypur, Saradi Limbadi and Ramela where the campaign had been on since August 16.

The jatha of 25 comrades, that preceded the Bhiloda rally, was given receptions and public meetings were held at Punasan, Djulera, Vatadi, Haripura, Hathrol, Kali Dungari, Nandoj and Mogari.

In all, 60 villages were covered before reaching Bhiloda. Khed Brahma’s singing group of Dayalgaon rendered militant songs during the whole programme. State CPI(M) secretary Arun Mehta gave a picture of the campaign as a whole in the state.

Upleta and Rajkot, two major centres in Rajkot district, witnessed a splendid campaign. In Rajkot, on August 27, a public meeting was jointly organised by the CPI(M) and NCP. Main leaders to address it were Sudhirbhai Joshi of NCP and Arun Mehta and Ramchadran of the CPI(M). The meeting was preceded by a procession that started from Millpara Main Road and moved through Bhootkhana Chowk, S T Bus Stand, R M C Chowk and Tikon Bagicha Chowk.

In Baroda district, jathas on foot, cycles and jeeps covered Moonhooda, Gotri, Makarpura, Talsarivadi, Fatehpura, Karjan, Sejakuva, Daka Padra and Bhandavada, while meetings were organised at Makarpura and Talsari Kisanvadi. Janwadi Mahils Samiti also organised meetings at Dabhoi, Vaghodia and Shinor. A jeep jatha from Muval covered Vishrampura, Karnakuva, Vadu, Narsinhpura, Dabaka Davda and Mohammadpura before returning back to Muval. The programmes took place despite very heavy rains.

In Bhavnagar, 24 group meetings and small meetings were organised, while 20,000 handbills were distributed. A unique feature of the entire campaign was that the juniors played a significant role in mobilizing for and conducting the campaign successfully.

In Ahmedabad, on August 31 at the end of the campaign, a procession came out from Khokhara Rohitmill compound and culminated in a public meeting at Hatkeswer Circle where a considerable number of people gathered.

CPI(M) state secretary Arun Mehta month traveled extensively through various districts during this campaign.