Leftists in Singareni unions move to BMS

The leftist workforce in the Singareni SCCL and coal belt areas are gradually shifting their allegiance to the pro-BJP Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) in the erstwhile Adilabad district.

The ideological shift among the workers is slow but it may gain pace. Some senior left leaders active in trade unions as also the CPI and the CPM and those elected as MLAs had died in recent years. A new leadership has not emerged and hence young activists here are not joining the left parties, unlike in the past.

The changes that took place in socio economic and political conditions in the last 15 years are influencing the minds of the youths and workers in altogether different ways. The growth of the BMS in the coal belt areas was nominal till recently. It gathered pace due to the weakening of leftist trade unionism in the SCCL and the increased role of money in the coal belt elections.

A significant step-up in BJP activities and the favourable results for the saffron party in the Dubbaka and GHMC polls too are having a positive impact here on trade union politics of the party that rules the Centre.

This ideological shift is quite visible among the Singareni workers in Mandamarri, Srirampur, Bellampalli and Ramagundam areas in the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).

Over a period of time, people and workers in the coal belt area have developed a feeling that political parties decided on the trade union activities and workers’ fate and not the trade unions themselves.

Saffron flags are flying at the coal mines and BMS is getting strengthened in the coal belt area especially in Srirampur area as days pass. Large numbers of Singareni workers are often seen attending BJP meetings. The other day, workers gave a rousing welcome to BJP state president Bandi Sanjay and party in-charge Tarun Chug in Srirampur.