S Sudhakar Reddy on Saturday took over as CPI general secretary from A B Bardhan,who will continue to work as a member of the central secretariat of the party. Reddy,a former MP from Andhra Pradesh,said his priority would be to work towards further strengthening the party and unifying Left forces. He said the party would also start a special programme in Hindi heartland. Bardhan,who had been party general secretary since 1997,touched upon a range of subjects he had dealt with during his tenure. There were occasions when we have been isolated. We had too many rivals but still managed to stand up, he said. Bardhan urged the party to continue protesting against price rise and rampant corruption. He appealed to comrades not to wait for any party circular regarding issues such as this and to immediately take to the streets. Bardhan also referred to the cancellation of the Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand in midst of corruption charges. Fraud on electoral system must be prevented. We have often raised the issue with the Election Commission. Money and muscle power is a big challenge before electoral reform, said the former CPI general secretary. He also appreciated social activist Anna Hazares efforts to fight corruption,but did not refrain from taking dig at his team. Anna Hazare is Anna Hazare but Team Anna is Team Anna, said Bardhan. The new CPI general secretary targeted the UPA government calling it corrupt. Reiterating his partys commitment to fight against corruption,Reddy said the party workers would keep protesting against any form of corruption. Like his predecessor,Reddy cautioned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar against association with the BJP. He went on to call the JD(U) secular but opportunistic. CPI spokesperson Atul Anjan said there had been a proposal to create a chairmans post in the party and to offer the post to Bardhan but the party constitution needed to be amended. The national council at the Patna Congress also elected nine members of the central secretariat.
