CPI's foundation day celebrations begin

PATNA: The three-day mega celebrations of the state CPI’s 80th foundation day began here on Sunday. The cadres and sympathisers of CPI hoisted party flags at their houses in all the 38 districts across the state, including in Kishanganj, where the district unit was formed four years ago.

The Bihar CPI was formed in Munger on October 20, 1939, with Sunil Mukherjee as its first state secretary.

A 15-member committee had also been constituted. However, the first public announcement regarding the formation of the party’s state unit for Bihar, including present-day Jhakhand, was made on January 26, 1940.

As part of the 80th foundation day celebration, a special function is scheduled to be held at Munger on Monday. Party’s general secretary D Raja would address the concluding function to be held at Janshakti Bhavan here on Wednesday.

Party’s state secretary Satya Narayan Singh and former JNUSU president-cum-the party’s central executive committee member Kanhaiya Kumar are also scheduled to address the Munger function.

On the first day of the celebrations in Patna, the flag hoisting functions were held at Janshakti Bhavan and Ajoy Bhavan (Kadamkuan), the state headquarters of the party.

The most colourful function was held at the Begusarai district office, where former MP Shatrughan Prasad Singh unfurled the party flag. Graffiti had been made on the walls of the office. The celebration was also marked by photo exhibition on the party’s 80-year journey, performance of a play by Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) and a cultural programme.

The Bihar CPI has 80,000 members in 38 districts and around 400 circle units, besides 3,500 branches.