The month-long Pledge Campaign culminated with a massive Rally at Bagodar on Comrade Mahendra Singh's fourth martyrdom day, 16 January, 2009. CPI(ML) General Secretary addressed this rally and called for strengthening the struggle front of the poor against the rulers' united front of loot and repression. The Rally also called for a state-wide bandh on 19 January to force the powers that be to declare fresh elections in the wake of Shibu Soren’s defeat and his rejection by the people of Tamar. At the end a five-point resolution was adopted. On that day, pledge marches were also organised in other places including Ranchi and Chakradharpur.
On 19 January, the party through its Jharkhand bandh demanded dissolution of the current Assembly and immediate elections to seek a fresh mandate. The bandh got an enthusiastic response across the state. At fifty places across sixteen districts groups of Party cadres and supporters along with general people marched on streets. In Giridih town, goons allied with Congress leader Sarfaraz Ahmed severely assaulted CPI(ML) leader Comrade Usman Ansari who was leading a march, and CPI(ML) leader Comrade Rajkumar Yadav was arrested. In Obra of Garhwa District Party supporters blockading a road were lathicharged and false cases slapped against them. At Giridih, Birni, Jamua, Dhanwar, Deori, Hazaribagh, Giddi, Heslong, Ramgarh, Bhurkunda, Patratu, Pochra, Bokaro, Chas, Jainamore, Petarwar, Bermo, Nirsa, Govindpur, Sindri, Jharia, Jamtara, Raneshwar, Shikaripara Road, Nanihat, Devghar, Koderma, Ranchi, Lohardaga, Kisko, Barwadih, Ghaghra, Bihnupur, Latehar, Daltongunj, Chhatarpur, Panki, Obra, Nagar Untari, Bhavnathpur and some more places, marches were taken out and national highways were blocked for hours. The successful bundh has compelled other opposition parties also to demand fresh elections.
Earlier on 12 January, on the initiative of CPI(ML), the CPI(M) and the RSP joined a march to the Rajbhawan demanding dissolution of the present State Assembly.
In December, the party had held protests against the police firing at anti-displacement protestors in Kathikund (Dumka). On the call of CPI(ML), the CPI(M), All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA) and Jharkhand Grameen Mazdoor Sabha (JGMS) jointly marched to the Jharkhand State Assembly on 17 December 2008, protesting against the police firing on 6 December 2008, in which one protestor Lakhiram Tudu was killed. The march was led by CPI(ML) leader and MLA Comrade Vinod Kumar Singh, CPI(M) State Executive Member Comrade Prakash Viplav, CPI(ML) spokesperson Com. Jayprakash Minz, AIPWA secretary Com. Sunita and JGMS General Secretary Com. Parmeshwar Mahto. Later the protest march culminated in a mass meeting at the Birsa Chowk in front of the Vidhan Sabha. Leaders and activists from Jharkhand Krantikari Visthapit Sangharsh Morcha (revolutionary struggle front of the displaced) and Ulgulan Front also participated in the protest march.
Prior to the march, on 15 December, the AIPWA held a militant demonstration in front of the Dumka Deputy Commissioner’s office. The march was led by Com. Sunita, AIPWA State President Com. Guni Uraon, State Jt. Secretary Com. Geeta Mandal and Dumka’s AIPWA leader Com. Bitiya Manjhi. The protestors demanded unconditional release of Muni Hansda and her comrades, scrapping of all MoUs including the one for Kathikund power project, and action against the guilty police officials.
