CPI Congress Started
Nadaswaram and thavil artists performing at the inaugural of the CPI(M)’s 19th Congress in Coimbatore on Saturday. Days before the 19th congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) began here on Saturday, the city was being decked up for the high-profile, week-long political meet. Over the past few days, CPI (M) flags and banners with portraits of party leaders were being installed at all major traffic intersections. On the big day on Saturday, all major roundabouts and arterial roads in the city had prepared themselves to accord a “red welcome” to the delegates, including representatives from Communist parties of two dozen countries. The main Avanashi Road that leads to the venue was decked up with colourful arches.
The traditional red look, the colour associated with the Left parties and working class struggles and movements, was predominant. Red flags and banners hailing “Workers of the World Unite,” were plastered at the venue, S.N.R Auditorium premises, which has been rechristened Anil Biswas Nagar. Big photographs of the nine members of the first Polit Bureau in their heydays were put up right at the decorated entrance. All main roads of Coimbatore had posters and banners that lent a festive touch to the congress. Prominent leaders, whose portraits appeared in the banners put up at vantage points, included party general secretary Prakash Karat, and Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury. Decorative arches bore the pictures of stalwarts Harkishan Singh Surjeet and Jyoti Basu. At some places, portraits of EMS Namboodiripad, A.K. Gopalan and Chittabrata Mazumdar were put up.city was being decked up for the high-profile, week-long political meet
Party volunteers, including councillors of the local municipal corporation, lined up on the road leading to the venue. Donning red shirts and khaki trousers, they not only provided a protective outer ring near the dais but also guided delegates and mediapersons to their places. The inaugural session took off with a floral welcome by schoolchildren and performance by a choir group. A nadaswaram troupe provided the musical touch. Homage was paid to the martyrs of the party. Delegates reserved their cheers and applause for 11 guests of honour, two of them in their 90s, who were called on the stage for felicitation. As many as 52 delegates belonging to 26 fraternal organisations from 24 countries were felicitated by the CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat.
30.03.2008.
