VIJAYAWADA: The CPI party conference on Saturday witnessed self-criticism over the age of its leaders. This comes hardly a few weeks after the party witnessed a controversy over the age limit for the leaders during the state conference in Kerala. The draft action report presented at the 24th Party Congress openly stated that the party has become a victim of 'elderly rule' led by old leaders.

The CPI believes that the old leaders should not continue to be at the top. More youth and women should be brought into leadership. Although the task is tough, it is necessary for the growth of the party, the report said.

There is numbness at all levels of the party as some are clinging on to leadership positions for a long time. Those who once occupy a position think that they are the only ones who are indispensable. There is only a marginal presence of youth, women and the socially oppressed at all levels of leadership. The average age of party leadership at the national and state levels is close to sixty. According to the report, this is in stark contrast with the principle of ensuring generational change, gender equality and participation of youth and women.

Party should change completely
A radical change in party functioning should begin at the national, state and district leadership levels. The party should strengthen its relationship with the people. Leaders at higher levels should address issues at the branch and local levels. They should constantly interact with the activists by learning the social and political realities. Campaigns and mass communication programs should be organized. Campaigns should be carried out to bring grassroots struggles to everyone. The party should also take up the land problems of the rural people.

A new leadership can be nurtured at the grassroots level through the mobilizing struggles of 6,44,000 party members and supporters in the country. Thus the numbness of the party can be changed. Party branches in villages have leaders from the middle class, the poor, peasants and farm workers. They have the ability to organize people. The party can gain an advantage in the assembly and parliamentary elections if the involvement of these leaders is strengthened, including at the panchayat levels.