ALL INDIAFORWARD BLOC

CONSTITUTION

CONSTITUTIONOF THE

ALL INDIAFORWARD BLOC

CONSTITUTION OF THEALL INDIA FORWARD BLOC

PREAMBLE

1. The All India Forward Bloc, the party founded byNetaji Subhas Chandra Bose, is a revolutionary partywhich accepts Scientific Socialism as its objective.

2. It beleves in the theory of class struggle in its fullestimplications.

3. It aims at the establishment of a Union of SocialistRepublics in India leading to classless society throughsocialist revolution.

4. In its task of determining the coarse of revolution,its contents and forms at all phases and in itsendeavours to apply the universal truth of ScientificSocialism, it shall constantly seek to take into accountthe objective national conditions, contexts andparticularities.

5. The Forward Bloc declares its allegiance to theteachings and leadership of Netaji Subhas ChandraBose, which kindled the revolutionary aspirations of thepeople of India and of the whole of South-East Asia towin national freedom and a new order of life, free from

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all forms of exploitation.

6. The Forward Bloc accepts the programme ofpostwar revolution, as envisaged by Netaji, for theestablishment of Socialism in Indian context and underIndian conditions.

7. The Forward Bloc, born out of the long, intense andpatriotic struggles waged by the people of India fornational • independence shall continue to drawsustenance, inspiration and carry forward its richheritages particularly those of the left.

8. The Forward Bloc pledge to wage relentless andprotracted war against Imperialism which is great threatto global peace and co-existence.

9- The Forward Bloc firmly affirms that .in all itsefforts to achieve the aims, it shall draw inspirationsand relevant lessons from the teachings ofRevolutionary leaders of different parts of the World,and other revolutionary thinkers in the direction oftransformation of class-based society into a classlessone. It will also take lessons from the experiences ofrevolutions towards socialism that have taken place indifferent countries and of experiments in socialistreconstruction going on in these countries, but willdevelop its own line suitable to the particular conditionsof India.

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the Party shall be the AH India ForwardBloc (In short A I F B).

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ARTICLE II

PARTY FLAG

The flag of the party shall be a red flag of which thelength shall be one-and-a-half time its width. Thereshall be a leaping tiger on the flag with the tiger facingthe top of the pole. At the right top of the flag thereshall be a crossed hammer and sickle, just above thetiger's tail. The body of the Tiger shall be in yellow andblack; Hammer and sickle shall be in white.

ARTICLE HI

THE PARTY TO UPHOLD SOVEREIGNTY, UNITY

AND INTEGRITY OF INDIA

The Party shall bear, true faith and allegiance to theconstitution of India as by law established, and to theprinciples-of socialism, secularism and democracy, andwould uphold the sovereignty, unity and integrity ofIndia.

ARTICLE IV(A)

The Party shall organisp continuous training for theParty members.

ARTICLE IV(B)

FRONTS AND MASS ORGANISATIONS

The Party shall work in the following fronts and massorganisations :

a. Labour — Trade Union Co-ordinationCentre (TUCC)

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b. Peasants —

c. Youth —

d. Students —

e. Volunteers—

f. Women —

g. Cultural —

h. Teachers —

All India Agragami Kisan Sabha

AH India Youth League

All India Students' Bloc

Ajad Hind Volunteers

All India Agragami MahilaManch (Samity)

Lok Samskriti Samsad

Organisations of Primary,Secondary, College andUniversity teachers affiliated tothe Federation of All IndiaPrimary, Secondary, Collegeand University Teachers' andEmployees' Organisations.

2. The Party may set up other mass organisations, ifnecessary.

3. The Party may form 'Cell', if necessary fororganisational purposes.

ARTICLE V

MEMBERSHIP

1. There shall be two categories of members in theParty, i.e. (a) Associate Members and (b) ActiveMembers.

2. Any citizen of India, 18 years of age or above whoaccepts the aims and objects of the Party as enunciatedin the Preamble of the Constitution, and the Programmeand Constitution of the Party, having experience of

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work in any frontal organisation of the Party may applyfor Associate Membership of the Party onrecommendation of the respective Party unit.

3. Associate members who perform the Partyprogramme and duties effectively, consistently andsincerely as assigned by the respective party units andhaving a fair knowledge in theoretical, tactical andorganisational principles of the party may apply forActive Membership on recommendation by respectiveparty units.

4. The primary unit of the Party shall recommend tothe Local Committee as to whether an AssociateMember will be made an Active Member, and thedecision of Local Committee in this regard shall be finalsubject to the approval of higher committees, upto thelevel of the Central Committee of the Party.

Explanation : The Central Committee of the Partyshall decide the maximum number of Associate andActive Members in a particular state. Similarly, aState Committee of the Party shall decide, themaximum number of Associate and Active Membersin" a particular district. In such case, the DistrictCommittee shall distribute the membership, bothAssociate and Active, allotted for the district amongthe lower committees.

5. Th,e Central Committee of the Party shall preparethe programme for enrolement of members, both Activeand Associate every year.

6. (a) The secretariat of the State/District committeesshall form the scrutiny Committee, subject to the

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approval of the State/District committee to receivecomplaints as to the enrolment and other membershiprelated issues of members within the State and scrutinycommittee shall make enquiries into these complaints inthe manner it considers proper. The Scrutiny Committeeshall submit its report to the Secretarial of the State/District committee within the specified period and thedecision taken by the State/District committee shall takedecision on it.

(b) State/District scrutiny committee shall have todispose off all the applications within sixty days of thereceipt of such applications.

(c) If in any case District Scrutiny committee fails todispose off any such application within the stipulatedtime the benefit will go in favour of the applicant.

(d) Any appeal against the decision of the Districtcommittee may be made directly to the state committeeby the aggrieved party member (Active/Associate) orapplicant within seven days from the date of receipt ofthe decision of the District Committee.

(e) Any appeal against the decision of Jhe Statecommittee may be made directly to the Centralcommittee by the aggrieved party member (Active/Associate) or applicant within fifteen days from the dateof receipt of the decision of the §tate Committee.

(f) The Central Committee shall have to dispose allthe applications regarding membership disputes withinninety days.

7. The Central Committee shall decide upon the

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Schedule/time table for check-up renewal/enrolement ofmembership, both Associate or Active, every year.

Any member who has not taken part in Party activitiesfor a period pf six months, or has failed to pay Partydues or levy and against whom there are other chargesas defined in Article XIII shall be dropped frommembership.

8. A member from another left, democratic andsecular political party may be admitted as an activemember of the Party on the recommendation of theParty unit of appropriate level. The decision shall haveto be ratified by the next higher Committee.

8. A member, Associate or Active may resign fromthe Party by submitting a letter of resignation under his/her own signature to the primary unit of the Party withwhich he or she is attatched.

Explanations : (a) The primary unit may or may notaccept his/her resignation. If the resignation is notaccepted, the reason for not accepting the resignationshall have to be limited to the member, who hasresigned.

(b) If there is a charge of violation of Party disciplineagainst the member of the Party, who has submitted theresignation, the Party Committee, making such a chargeagainst him/her shall continue the proceedings of actionagainst him/her notwithstanding the fact that he/she hassubmitted the resignation.

9. An expelled member of the Party may bereadmitted by the decision of the Party Committee

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which confirmed his/her expulsion, subject to theapproval of the higher committee.

ARTICLE VI

MEMBERSHIP FEE

AH members, Associate and Active, shall pay a Partymembership fee for four & five rupees per yearrespectively.

ARTICLE VII

MEMBERSHIP CARDS

1. On admission to membership, every Active andAssociate member shall be issued a membership card.

2. Party membership cards shall be uniformthroughout the country and shall be issued by theCentral Committee.

ARTICLE VIII

REGISTER OF MEMBERS

1. All Party Committees, from primary to central levelshall maintain register of members, both Associate andActive within their respective jurisdiction.

2. In the event of any member seeking transfer fromone place to other place, the concerned committee shalltake decision subject to the consent of the committee towhich transfer has been sought for with the approval ofhigher committees according to the jurisdiction of boththe committees

3. Any member may avail leave on application statingthe grounds.

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ARTICLE IX

PARTY LEVY

1. All the Associate and Active members shall have topay 1% (One percent) of their income ai party levy.

2. The levy shall be collected by the lowest units andthat shall be distributed in the following manner

Branch Committee 20%

Local Committee 20%

Zonal Committee 15%

District Committee 20%

State Committee 15%

Central Committee 10%

Explanation : 1. The levy shall always be on onepoint levy. A member, Associate or Active, shallhave to pay levy to one committee only, either to theCentral Committee or to the State Committee or tothe District Committee or to the local.

2. The non-payment of Party Levy by any membershall be considered as violation of Party disciplineand proper action by the relevant committee againstthe member, who has not paid the Party levy shallhave to be taken.

3. In addition to usual fees and levies all the partycommittees may impose extra levy from all/someparty members for better functioning of the Party.Besides this, party units of all level, must arrangeaccordingly to raise fund through public donations,

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crop-collections and regular sale of Party Organs,booklets etc.

ARTICLE X

RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

1. (a) Active members — An active member shall havethe right to be elected and elect at all levels.

(b) Associate member — An Associate member shallhave the right to be elected and elect at the branch levels.

(c) To participate in the activity of the Party,including the activities of different frontal massorganisations and cells, attatched to the Party.

(d) To take part in discussion in the Party atappropriate levels for formulation of policies aridprogrammes of the party.

(e) To make proposals regarding their own work inthe Party and to get work assigned to themselves.

(f) In case of a difference with any decision of a Partyunit, a member has the Fight to submit his or heropinion, in writing, to the higher committee. In such acase, he/she is to keep the criticism of the decision ofthe Party Unit within the Party and not to discloseanything outside.

(g) To make criticism about Party units andfunctionaries in Party meetings and hot to discloseanything outside.

(h) To be heard in person in his or her unit in theParty when the unit discusses disciplinary action againsthim or her.

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ARTICLE XI

DUTIES OF MEMBERS

1. The duties of members are as follows :

(a) To participate in the activities of the Party and tofaithfully carry out the policy, decisions and thedirectives of the Party and to pay regularly the levy asfixed by the Party.

(b) To fight for the cause of the toiling masses.

(c) To observe the Party Constitution and PartyDiscipline.

(d) To study the life and teachings of Netaji SubhasChandra Bose and History of Freedom Movement of.India, specially revolutionary activities, Indiantraditions, cultures, heritages, contemporarydevelopments on national and international scenes.

(e) To study the basic principles of ScientificSocialism.

(f) To subscribe one of the official party organs; read,support .and popularise Party journals and publications.

(g) To place the interests of the people and the Partyabove personal interests.

(h) To cultivate comradely relations towards oneanother within the Party.

(i) To defend the Party and uphold its ideology andcause against the attacks by the enemies of the Party,the toiling people and the country.

(j) To fight consistently against the forces of

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secessionism and communalism and to defend the unityand integrity of the nation.

(k) To fight against world capitalist, imperialist andneo-colonial forces.

(1) To fight against obscurantist, Xenophobic and allother reactionary forces.

(m) To fight for social justice and sustainabledevelopments.

ARTICLE XII

PRINCIPLES OF PARTY FUNCTIONING

The following shall be the guiding principles for thefunctioning of the Party :

(a) Democratic Centralism based on complete inner-party democracy.

(b) Elected bodies for Party Committees at all levels,from top to bottom at regular intervals.

(c) Strong discipline for all members, associate and"active, legislators and other members of public bodies,elected and nominated and office bearers of allcommittees.

(d) Acceptance of the decision of the majority in aParty organ by all, including those who differ with themajority opinion.

(e) Regular reporting on organisational work and othermatters connected with the Party by members.

(f) All the party committees shall follow the principle

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of progress for the organization through collectivedecisions with individual responsibility and necessaryarrangements of check-up in all levels strictly.

(g) ThejCentral Committee of the party shall takedecisions on all National and International issues. Itshall also express opinion on such issues which arerelated with the interests of a number of states andwhere the nation deserves an uniform- and identicalpolicy decision. In state and district level the partycommittee of respective jurisdiction shall expressopinion and take decision on all the relevant issues ofrespective limits. But in no case the decisions of thelower committees shall contradict the decision of thehigher committees.

(h) The Central Committee of the party is the onlyauthority to express views, on such issues which has notbeen covered before in any stage in the documents ofthe Party Congress. Moreover, in any new situation, thehighest policy making body of the party — the CentralCommittee/Central Secretariat may issue statement onbehalf of the Party.

(i) Free and open discussions should be encouraged inthe Party meetings.

(j) Continuous efforts should be taken to educate andinvolve the party members effectively in partyprogramme and in the process of building up of theparty and to popularize the party policy and programme

(k) In all levels of the organization, the process ofconstructive criticism and self criticism shall beencouraged.

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ARTICLE XIII

PARTY DISCIPLINE

1. Acceptance of the Constitution of the Party, theprogramme and policies of the Party and the decisionstaken by different organs is the very basis of Partydiscipline.

2. All members, Associale and Active shall be equallybound by Party discipline irrespective of their status inthe Psrty organisation or in public life.

3. Steps for action for violation of Party disciplinemay be taken against a member if he or she is found tohave committed one or more of the followingoffences :

(a) Violation of any provision of the constitution ofthe Party;

(b) Refusal to obey the decision of the Party atappropriate level and directive issued to him/her by thecompetent authority in the Party;

(c) Action, indulging in the creation of group or•faction within the Party;

(d) Making of a speech in public, issuing a statementin the Press, and writing and publishing of articles in thePress, handbills, booklets, posters, letters against adecision.of the Party;

(e) Misconduct in behaviour with a member of theParty or any one outside the party;

(0 Leaking out of the proceedings of a meeting ofParty organ or any other confidential information about

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the Party outside, including the Press;

(g) Misappropriation of Party or public fund.

4. Charges brought against any member of anycommittee shall be dealt with by I the concernedcommittee after giving him/her a reasonable opportunityof hearing.

5. In dealing with a case of violation of Partydiscipline the concerned Party Committee shall first tryto settle it by persuation and to rectify the member.

6. Any of the following actions may be taken againsta member for violation of party discipline :

i. Warning,

ii. Censoring,

iii. Suspension from certain responsibility in theParty; relieving from certain responbilities,

iv. Suspension from Party membership for acertain period, or

v. Expulsion from Party membership.

7. An aggrieved member may go on appeal to the nexthigher committee. In case of suspension or expulsion,he can move upto the Central Committee and theCentral Control Commission.

8. In case the member against whom the charge ofviolation of Party discipline is brought by a PartyCommittee is a member of a higher Party Committee,the entire case of such violation shall have to be sent tothe higher committee with the comments of thecommittee with which such charge of violation of Party

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discipline is first raised for final decision in the matter.

9. A party Committee may take action againstimmediate lower committee for violation of Partydiscipline, non-functioning and malfunctioning. Thelower committee shall, however, be given reasonableopportunity to defend itself. If such situation arises, thehigher committee shall form an ad-hoc committee forthe concerned lower committee.

If the Committee is aggrieved, it may appeal to thenext higher committee of the Committee which hastaken the action.

ARTICLE XIV

ALL INDIA PARTY CONGRESS

1. The Supreme organ of the Party for the wholecountry shall be the All India Party Congress

2. The Party Congress shall ordinarily be held once infour years. The Central Committee may defer theholding of the Party Congress under specialcircumstances.

3. (a) Central Committee may convene special extra-ordinary meeting under special circumstances.

(b) Requisition meeting — An extra-ordinary PartyCongress be requisitioned by one-third of the delegateselected to the last All India Party Congress.

(c) The Central Committee may convene SpecialCentral Plenary Session of the Party to discussexclusively about the ideological issues and partyprogramme under special circumstances.

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The basis of the representation to the Special extraordinary meeting and Plenum shall be determined bythe Central Committee.

4. The date and venue of the Party Congress andExtra-ordinary Party Congress and Party Plenum shallbe decided by the Central Committee.

5. The total number of delegates to the Party Congressshall not exceed one thousand in any case.

The basis of the representation to the Congress shallbe determined by the Central Committee.

6. The Chairman of the Party shall preside over theParty Congress, and the Extra-ordinary Party Congressand he will conduct the proceedings of the Congresswith the help of the members of the Secretariat of theCentral Committee.

7. Functions and procedures of the regular PartyCongress are as follows :

(a) To discuss and adopt the political andorganisational report of the Central Committee.

(b) To discuss and adopt the draft resolutions onnational and international situation and other relevantissues prepared by the Central Committee.

(c) To discuss the Policy and Programme of theParty and to.take appropriate action on them.

(d) To amend the Party Constitution, if necessary.

(e) To discuss any other matter, brought before itby the Central Committee.

(g) To elect the National Council.

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(h) To elect the Central Committee including themembers of the Secretariat and office-bearers.

ARTICLE XV

NATIONAL COUNCIL

1. In between the two Party Congresses, the NationalCouncil shall be the highest policy formulating body ofthe Party.

2. The Party Congress shall elect the National Councilconsisting of members not exceeding 250.

3. The National Council shall meet at least once inbetween two Party Congresses. The Central Committeeshall convene the meeting of the National Council.

4. The function of the National Council shall be asfollows :

(a) To receive report on Party organisationprepared by the Central Committee and to takedecisions on them.

(b) To discuss any matter brought before it by theCentral Committee for its considerations.

(c) To consider and adopt on any matter refferedto it by the Party Congress.

ARTICLE XVI

CENTRAL COMMITTEE

1. The Central Committee shall consist of membersnot more than 65, including the members of theSecretariat and office-bearers, and not below 31. In

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electing the members of the Central Committee, careshould be taken to see that there is at least one membereach from all the States where the Party functions.

2. The Central Committee shall function for a periodfrom one regular Party Congress to the other.

3. The Central Committee shall be responsible forenforcing the Constitution of the Party and forimplementation of the decisions adopted by the PartyCongress, whether regular or extra-ordinary and by theNational Council.

4. The Central Committee shall take decisions onNational and International situation, from time to timeconsistent with the line adopted at the Party Congress.

5. The Central Committee shall discuss political andorganisational matters and guide the State Committees.

6. The Central Committee shall maintain necessarycontrol over the State Committees in relation to theiractivities in the States.

7. The Central Committee shall monitor thefunctioning of fronts and mass organisations attached tothe Party and the Party cells.

8. The Central Committee is responsible for the Partyfinances and it shall consider and adopt the statement ofaccounts, submitted before it by the Secretariat of theCentral Committee.

9. The Central Committee may fill up any vacancyoccuring in its composition.

10. The Central Committee shall meet ordinarily atleast once in two months.

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ARTICLE XVII

SECRETARIAT OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Composition and Functions :

1. The Secretariat of the Central Committee shallconsist of not more than 15 members, of whom oneshall be the Chairman, one Deputy Chairman, oneGeneral Secretary and one Finance Secretary.

2. The Secretariat of the Central Committee shall takedecisions on behalf of the Central Committee inbetween two meetings.

3. The Secretariat of the Central Committee shall beresponsible for the implementation of the decisionstaken by the Central Committee.

4. The Secretariat of the Central Committee shall beresponsible for day to day functioning of the office ofthe Central Committee.

5. The Secretariat of the Central Committee shallmaintain accounts of money received and spent for thework of the Central Committee.

6. The Bank Account of the Party shall be in the nameof the General Secretary, the Finance Secretary and anyone of the secretariat member of the Party. Among thesethree any two shall operate the Bank Account of theParty Central Committee.

ARTICLE XVIII

THE STATE CONFERENCE

1. The State Conference is the supreme organ of the

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Party in the State, and its session is held as a part of theprogramme of the Party Congress.

2. An Extra-ordinary Session of the State Conferenceshall be called by the State Committee at its owndiscretion or on requisition by one-third of totaldelegates of the last Conference.

3. The basis of composition of the State Conferenceshall be decided by the Secretariat of the StateCommittee, but the total number of the delegatesattending the conference shall not be more than 500 andnot less than 100.

4. The function of the State Conference shall be as»

follows :(a) To discuss and adopt on the political and

organisational report placed before it by the StateCommittee.

(b) To discuss the draft resolutions and otherdocuments prepared for the Party Congress by theCentral Committee and make comments thereon.

(c) To discuss any matter that may be presentedbefore it by the State Committee. To implement thecircular of the Central Committee effectively.

(d) To elect the State Council.

(e) To elect the State Committee, including themembers of its Secretariat and office bearers.

(f) To elect delegates to the AH India PartyCongress.

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ARTICLE XIX

STATE COUNCIL

1. There shall be a State Council in the State.

2. The State Council shall be the highest body of theParty in between the two State Conferences.

3. The State Council shall meet at least once inbetween two State Conferences.

4. The basis of composition of the State Council shallbe one-fourth of the total delegates of the conference.

5. The functions of the State Council shall be asfollows :

(a) To discuss reports on Party Organisation in theState and to take decisions on them.

(b) To discuss any matter, brought before it by theState Committee.

(c) To consider and adopt decision on any matterreffered to it by the State Conference.

ARTICLE XX

STATE COMMITTEE

1. The State Committee shall consist of members, notmore than 55, including the members of the Secretariat.

2. The functions of the State Committee shall be asfollows :

(a) To implement the decisions taken by the StateConference and the State Council.

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(b) To enforce the directions of the CentralCommittee in relation to the activity of the Party in theState.

(c) To organise mass movements in the interest ofthe toiling masses.

(d) To maintain necessary control over the DistrictCommittees in relation to their activities in the districts.

(e) To monitor the functioning of different frontsand mass organisations, attached to the Party and Partycells in the State.

(f) To manage finances of the Party in the Stateand to consider and adopt the statement of accounts,submitted before it by the Secretariat of the StateCommittee.

ARTICLE XXI

SECRETARIAT OF THE STATE COMMITTEE

1. The Secretariat of the State Committee shall consistof not more than 12 members, of whompne shall be theChairrriari, one Deputy Chairman, one GeneralSecretary and one Finance Secretary. •

2. The Secretariat of the State Committee shall takedecisions on behalf of the State Committee in betweentwo meetings. Its proceeding shall be confirmed innext State Committee meeting.

3. The Secretariat of the State Committee shall beresponsible for the implementation of the decisionstaken by the State Committee.

4. The Secretariat of the State Committee shall

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maintain accounts for the money received and spent forthe State Committee and shall place these accountsbefore the State Copmmittee for its consideration andapproval.

5. The General Secretary, the Finance Secretary andany one of the Secretariat member of the StateCommittee will operate the Bank Account of the StateCommittee.

ARTICLE XXII

DISTRICT CONFERENCE

1. The District Conference shall be held immediatelybefore the regular State Conference.

2. The maximum number of delegates attending aDistrict Conference shall be 250.

3. (a) There shall be a District Council consisting ofmembers not exceeding one-third of the total number ofthe delegates to the District Council. It shall be electedby the District Conference.

.(b) The District Committee shall call the DistrictCouncil meeting at least twice in a year.

4. The functions of the District Conference shall be asfollows :

(a.) To discuss and adopt the organisational, reportprepared by the District Committee.

(b) To discuss the Draft Resolutions prepared for theParty Congress by the Central Committee and makecpmments thereon.

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(c) To consider matter that may be brought before itby the District Committee.

(d) To elect the District Council and DistrictCommittee including the members of its Secretariat andoffice-bearers.

ARTICLE XXIII

DISTRICT COMMITTEE

1. There shall be District Committees of the Party forthe Districts, ordinarily corresponding to the revenuedistricts in the States. The State Committee may grantthe status of a district for the purpose of formation of aDistrict Committee to any particular area in the State,either by reducing the area of an existing revenuedistrict, or by adding new areas to a revenue district.

2. The District Committee shall consist of members,not more than 35, including the members of theSecretariat.

3. The functions of the District Committee shall be asfollows :

(a) To implement the decisions taken by the DistrictConference,

(b) To enforce the directives of the State Committeein relation to the activity of the Party in the district.

(c) To organise mass movements in the interest ofthe toiling masses.

(d) To maintain necessary control over the LocalCommittees/Zonal Committees/Branch Committees inrelation to their activity.

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(e) To monitor the functioning of different fronts andmass organisations attached to the Party and Party cellsin the Districts.

(f) To manage finances of the Party in the district tqconsider and adopt the statement of accounts, submittedbefore it by the Secretariat of the District Committee.

4. The functions of the District Council shall be ;

(a) To discuss reports on Party Organisation in thedistrict and to take decisions on them.

(b) To discuss any matter brought brfore it by theDistrict Committee.

(c) To consider and adopt decision on any matterreffered to it by the District Conference.

ARTICLE XXIV

SECRETARIAT OF THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE

1. The Secretariat of the District Committee shallconsist of 11 members, of whom one shall be theChairman, one Deputy Chairman, one GeneralSecretary and one Finance Secretary.

2. The Secretariat of the District Committee shall takedecisions on behalf of the District Committee inbetween two meetings. The proceeding shall beconfirmed in next District Committee Meeting.

3. The Secretariat of the District Committee shall beresponsible for the implementation of the decisionstaken by the State Committee.

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4. The Secretariat of the District Committee shallmaintain accounts for the money received and spent forthe District Committee, and shall place the accountsbefore the District Committee for its consideration andapproval. '

5. The General Secretary, the Finance Secretary andany one of the Secretariat memer of the DistrictCommittee will operate the Bank Account of theDistrict Committee.

ARTICLE XXV

LOCAL COMMITTEE

1. There shall be the Local Committees pf the Party.It will be elected by the Local Conference.

2. The. territorial jurisdiction of a Local Committeeshall be determined by the District Committee.Ordinarily such jurisdiction shall be a Block or PoliceStation area. A municipal area within a Block/PoliceStation area may have a separate Local Committee.

3. The Local Committee shall consist of members, notmore than 21, including one Chairman, one DeputyChairman, one General Secretary and four Secretaries.The Secretariat of the Local Committee shall consist ofone Chairman, one Deputy Chairman, one GeneralSecretary and four Secretaries.

4. The total number of members of a Local Committeeshall not be less than 7. If it is found that in a particularBlock or Police Station area such number of activemembers are not available, the. Local Committee shall

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be formed with more than one Block/Police Stationarea.

5. The Local Committee shall be responsible forimplementation of the programme of jthe Party withinthe area of its jurisdiction.

6. The Local Committee shall monitor the activities ofthe fronts and mass organisations attached to the Partyand Party cells within its area.

7. The Secretariat of the Local Committee shallmaintain the accounts for money received and spent forthe Party within its area and place it before the LocalCommittee for its consideration and approval.

ARTICLE XXVI

BRANCH COMMITTEES (PRIMARY UNITS)

1. The Primary Unit of the Party at the grassroot levelshall be the Branch Committee.

2. The Local Committee shall determine the territorialjurisdiction of a Branch Committee with the approval ofthe District Committee. Ordinarily the jurisdiction of aBranch Committee shall be a village Panchayat area inthe village and a Municipal Ward area in the town. TheBranch Committee may also be formed in theestablishment of a factory or an office.

3. If it is found that in a Branch Committee area ofvillage or Municipal Ward or in factory or office, suchnumber of active members are not available, the BranchCommittee shall be formed with more than one Village/Municipal Ward area/factory or office.

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4. The Branch Committee shall consist of membersnot exceeding 11 including one Secretary. It shall beelected in a general body meeting of Active andAssociate members. The number of Associate memberselected to the Branch Committee shall not exceed 5 outof 11.

5. The Branch Committee shall be responsible forimplementation of the programme of the Party withinthe area of its jurisdiction subject to an overall controlof the Local Committee over it.

6. The Branch Committee shall monitor the activitiesof the fronts and mass organisations attached to theParty and Party cells within its area.

7. The Secretary of the Branch Committee shall beresponsible for the accounts of money collected andspent for the Party in the Branch Committee area andshall place it before the Branch Committee for itsconsideration and approval.

8. The Secretary and one member of the BranchCommittee will operate the Bank/Post Office accountsof the Branch Committee.

ARTICLE XXVII

ZONAL COMMITTEES

1. The District Committee may decide to form ZonalCommittees of the Party in between the LocalCommittee and the District Committee, e.g., theDivisional Committee, with the prior approval of theState Committee.

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2. The Zonal committee shall be composed of notmore than 25 members including one general secretaryand six secretaries. The Secretariat of the ZonalCommittee shall consist of nine members including theGeneral Secretary and Aie Secretaries.

3.The Zonal Committee shall be formed by themembers of the Party, falling within the jurisdiction ofsuch committee, immediately before the formation ofthe District Committee.

4. The Zonal Committee shall be responsible for theactivities of the Party within its territorial jurisdiction,subject to the control of the District Committee in thisregard.

5. The Zonal Committee shall be responsible for themonitoring of the functions of fronts and massorganisations of the Party and the Party cells within thearea of its jurisdiction.

6. The Secretariat of the Zonal Committee shall beresponsible for the accounts of money collected andspent for the Party in the area of its jurisdiction andshall place it before the Committee for its considerationand approval.

ARTICLE XXVIII

All the lower units are to send their statement ofaccounts including Bank/Post Office Accounts to thehigher committees every year.

ARTICLE XXIX

REQUISITION MEETING

If the meetings of a Committee are not held regularly

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in accordance with the constitution and the GeneralSecretary/Secretary is found unwilling to convene themeeting even on the request, the members of suchcommittees have the right to hold requisition meetings.i '. The requisitionists shall give notice of their intentionto call a requisition meeting. If the General Secretary/Secretary does not call the meeting within one monthfrom the date of receipt of such notice.

In such circumstances at least one-third members ofthe committee shall issue notice under their signature toall members categorically mentioning the agenda,venue, date and time. Proceedings of such meetingsshall be valid and binding on its component bodies.

(b) Requisition meetings of the councils and / ordelegates shall also be held in the same manner andprocedure as mentioned above and the requisite numberof signatories shall be one-fifth of the total strength.

(c) Before exercising this right, the aggrieved membershould inform the immediate higher committee in thisregard.

ARTICLE XXX

Party shall print and publish party organs at differentlevels. The organs shall be properties of the Party. TheEditorial fibard for the. Organs shall be constituted bythe PartyJiornmittees at respective level.

ARTICLE XXXI

All the Party properties i.e., land, building, vehicle,

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office equipments and other materials at different levelsshall be under the proprietorship of a trust in the nameof late party leaders. The Board of Trustee shall be theSecretariat members of the Party at respective level.

ARTICLE XXXII

QUORUM

To constitute quorum it requires the presence of one-third of members in every party committee and sub-committee and in case of the council meetings orDelegates' sessions, the requisite number to formquorum shall be the one-fifth of the total strength.

ARTICLE XXXIII

VACANCY

(a) Vacancy caused by resignation or expulsion ordeath or habitual absence or by any other reason, shallbe filled up by the respective party committees, fromamongst the category, front or jurisdiction the memberbelonged to, by co-option.

(b) Vacancy in the sub-committees etc. shall be filledup by the appointing committee in the same manner.

(c) Vacancy in the post of General Secretary shall onlybe filled up by the Council or Delegates' session.Respective committees shall elect acting GeneralSecretary for the interim period.

Note : Votes, if necessary for the purpose, shall beby simple majority.

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ARTICLE XXXIV

PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITIES OF THE PARTY

1 Parliamentary Board : The Central Committeemay appoint a Parliamentarfy Board with 7 memberswhich shall —

(a) Confirm or reject, on specific grounds, theapplications for party nominations, recommended by theState Parliamentary Boards, approved by the StateCommittee.

(b) Decide upon the symbol of the partycandidates and determine the application andnomination fees, subject to approval of the C.C.Attempts must be made to maintain uniformity ofsymbols throughout the country.

(c) Formulate tactical policies and frame electionmanifesto on the recommendations of the StateCommittees, if any.

(d) Take up other matters for the smooth runningof the-election machinery.

(e) Central Parliamentary Board shall formulateguiding principles for the elected representatives of theParty for the successful implementation of the Party-policy in the public bodies and Governments.

(f) The Central Secretariat may also function asthe Central Parliamentary Board provided the CentralCommittee approve or resolve it.

2. State Parliamentary Board : The StateParliamentary Board appointed by the State Committeewith not more than 7 members shall —

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(a) Scrutinise and examine the applications of thewilling candidates seeking party nominations forcontesting the elections or by-elections to the State orCentral Legislature and primarily reject or recommendthe cases, recording specific grounds'and forward all thepapers to the State Committee for consideration.

(b) Frame rules and tactical lines in the objectiveconditions of the State.

(c) Conduct the elections machinery maintaininguniformity throughout the State.

(d) Average printing of literatures, posters etc. forproper publicity on the Party line.

(e) Take up other matters being authorised by theState Committee.

(f) Determine the fees for. application andnominations at all levels, keeping conformity with thedecisions of the- Central Parliamentary Board and shallformulate policies and principles for the smooth runningof the ejection machinery.

(g),The State Secretariat may also act as the StateParliamentary Board provided the; State Committeeapprove or resolve it.

3. The State Committee, shall however, ratify therecommendations of the State Parliamentary Board andforwarded the applications along with the central quotaof the fees to Central Parliamentary Board or CentralSecretariat as the case may be for final approval.

4. District Parliamentary Board : The District

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Committee shall act as the District Parliamentary Boardin respect of the elections to the District Bodies viz.Corporations or Municipalities and Panchayats. DistrictCommittees on the recommendations of the Local Unitsshall grant nominations subject to final approval of theState Committee.

5. State Committee, upto District level elections, shalldetermine the fees and levies and formulate the basicprinciples.

6. The relevant committees of the Party, i.e. theCentral, the State and the District, shall maintain fullcontrol over the activities of members of the Party whobecmes member of Parliament, Legislatures, Ministries,Panchayats or Municipalities, within their respectiveareas of jurisdiction.

7. The relevant Party Committees shall be responsiblefor nomination of Party members.on such bodies and beresponsible for their activities there.

6. The Party members on these bodies shall beresponsible for submitting regular reports to the relevantParty Committees regarding their activities in thesebodies.

9. The relevant Party Committees shall have thepower to call back any nominated member of the Partyfrom such bodies after giving/her a chance to be heardin person in this regard.

ARTICLE XXXV

CENf RAL CONTROL COMMISSION

1. There shall be a Central Control Commission of the

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Party, elected by the Party Congress, consisting of notniore than 9 members.

2. The Central Committee shall propose the names ofmembers of the Central Control Commission, and onceelected, the Central Control Commission shall functiontill the election of another Central Control Commissionby the next Party Congress.

3. The functions of the Central Control Commissionshall be as follows —

(a) To take up a case reffered to it by the PartyCongress, the National Council, the Central Committee,the Central Secretariat, the State Conference, the StateCouncil, the State Committee or the State Secretariatand to take action thereon.

(b) To receive cases where the disciplinary actionhas been taken by the National Council, the CentralCommittee, the Central Secretariat, the State Council,the State Committee or the State Secretariat and to takeaction thereon.

(c) To receive cases against which appeal hasbeen made to the State Control Commission andrejected and the member concerned has made an appealto the Central Control Commission.

4. The decision of the Central Control Commissionshall be considered as final, but if a contrary decision- istaken by the Central Committee or the State Committee,as the case may be, by a two-third majority of memberspresent and voting, such decision of the Central ControlCommission may be reviewed.

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ARTICLE XXXVI

STATE CONTROL COMMISSION

1. There shall be a Central Control Commission of theParty in each Sate/$ected by the State Conference,consisting of riot rttore than 7 members.

2. The State Committee shall propose the names ofmembers of the State Control Commission, and onceelected, the State Control Commission shall function tillthe election of another State Control Commission by thenext State Conference.

3. The functions of the State Control Commissionshall be as follows —

(a) To take up a case reffered to it by the StateConference, the Suite Council, the State Committee, theState Secretariat, the District Secretariat and to take,action thereon.

(b) To receive cases where the disciplinary actionhas been taken by the State Council, the StateCommittee, the . State Secretariat, the DistrictCommittee or the District Secretariat and to take actionthereon.

(c) To receive cases against which appeal hasbeen made to the State Control Commission.

4. The decision of the Central Control Commissionshall be considered-as final, but if a contrary decision istaken by the State Committee or the District Committee,in this regard, by a two-third majority of memberspresent and voting, such decision of the State ControlCommission may be reviewed.

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ARTICLE XXXVII

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE PARTY

The Genera] Secretaries of the Party Committees at allleve/s shall function as the Chief Executive of the. Partyat respective levels.

Explanation : In emergency Situation the GeneralSecretaries of all Party Committees may takedecisions on all matters concerning the day to dayfunctioning of the Party. The decision shall beratified by the next meeting of the Secretariat.

ARTICLE XXXVIII

AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION

The Party Constitution shall be amended generally bythe Party Congress or in cases of emergency only by theNational Council by a two-third majority of memberspresent and voting.

NOTE : The Constitution of the All IndiaForward Bloc as amended by the 14th PartyCongress held from 27-30 December 2001 atLucknow, U.p.

DEBABRATA BISWAS

GENERAL SECRETARY

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