All India Forward Bloc

The Party Founded by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

Constitution

CONSTITUTION

ALL INDIA FORWARD BLOC

 

PREAMBLE

 

  1. The All India Forward Bloc, the party founded by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the National Hero of India, is a nationalist revolutionary party, which accepts “Socialism” as its objective.
  2. The Party accepts the philosophy of Subhas Chandra Bose known as ‘Subhasism’ as its primary ideological base and doctrine.
  3. The All India Forward Bloc accepts the programme of socialist reconstruction of the country, as envisaged by Netaji, for the establishment of socialism in Indian context and under Indian conditions. It shall be termed as “Indian Socialism”
  4. It aims at the establishment of Socialism in India being compatible with the cultural thoughts of India. It promises to maintain national solidarity, gender equality, cultural unity and establish a classless, socialist and democratic society.
  5. The Party accepts the five principles that constitute the basis of Socialism, as propounded by Netaji are ‘Freedom, Equality, Justice, Discipline and Love’. The All India Forward Bloc fully affirms these five principles as the five pillars of our collective life and upholds the spirit of the slogan ‘Unity, Faith and sacrifice’ for establishing ‘Indian Socialism’
  6. The All India Forward Bloc affirms the core concept of Socialism as enunciated by Netaji was ‘Humanism’, which consists the following:
  • Humanism above any religious dogmatism, communalism and fundamentalism.
  • National revivalism and secularism as inculcated in the multi-cultural ethos of Indian civilization.
  • Radical and scientific approach for establishing equality amongst Indian masses irrespective of caste, race, community, religion and culture.
  • Socialization of the entire productive and distribution system of the nation.
  • Political and ideological clarity beyond hypocrisy, opportunism and careerism.
  • The course of progress of civilization based on pluralism.
  1. The All India Forward Bloc affirms its faith in the establishment of a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic in India.
  2. The All India Forward Bloc strives for India’s total freedom, i.e. freedom from triple bondage – political, social and economic – through persistent struggle between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ leading to a free and classless society. This struggle shall be termed as ‘Socialist Revolution’
  3. The Forward Bloc declares its allegiance to the teachings and leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, which kindled the revolutionary aspirations of the people of India and of the whole of South-East Asia to win national freedom and a new order of life free from all forms of exploitation.
  4. The All India Forward Bloc, born out of the long, intense and patriotic struggles waged by the people of India for national independence shall continue to draw sustenance, inspiration and carry forward its rich heritages.
  5. The All India Forward Bloc pledges to wage relentless and protracted war against Imperialism, Capitalism and Neo-colonialism, which are great threats to global peace and co-existence.
  6. The All India Forward Bloc accepts the ‘Right to expression’ as a fundamental right of every human being irrespective of their linguistic, cultural, religious and topographical diversities of India.
  7. The All India Forward Bloc firmly affirms that in all its efforts to achieve the aims, it shall draw inspirations and relevant lessons from the teachings of revolutionary leaders and innovative thinkers of different times and of different countries of the world in the direction of transformation of class-based society into a class-less one. It will also take lessons from the experiences of revolutions towards socialism that have taken place in different countries and of experiments in socialist reconstruction going on in those countries, but will develop its own line suitable to the particular conditions, contexts and particularities of India.
  8. The Party will continue its struggle with any communal force banking upon Provincialism and separatism. It stands upright against the very roots of racism and casteism.
  9. The Party stands upright as vanguards demanding the protection and preservation of the natural environment.
  10. The All India Forward Bloc prophesied and promised to create such a society where the individual interests would never stand in the way of prosperity of a society. Simultaneously, the individual interests would not be compensated for the upliftment of the society as described by the stalwart leaders of our freedom struggle and enunciated in the tenets of ‘Subhasism’.
  11. The All India Forward Bloc is committed to “Re-build India in Netaji’s Way” with the core concept of “Netaji’s India, A Socialist India”, which ensures the socialization of the entire production and distribution system.

 

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the party shall be ALL INDIA FORWARD BLOC (In short A I F B)

 

ARTICLE II

PARTY FLAG

The flag of the party shall be a Red Flag, of which the length shall be one-and-a-half time of its width. There shall be a leaping tiger on the flag with the tiger facing the top of the pole. The body of the Tiger shall be in yellow and black.

 

ARTICLE III

THE PARTY TO UPHOLD SOVEREIGNTY, UNITY AND INTEGRITY OF INDIA

The Party shall bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, and to the principles of socialism, secularism and democracy, and would uphold the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

 

ARTICLE IV (A)

The Party shall organize continuous training for the Party members

 

ARTICLE IV (B)

FRONTS AND MASS ORGANISATIONS

  1. The Party shall work in the following fronts and mass organizations with an aim to inculcate the ideals of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the political programme of All India Forward Bloc among various sectors of the society. The Mass fronts will act as auxiliary forces in the struggle of All India Forward Bloc in establishing ‘Netaji’s India, a Socialist India’.
  • Labour – Trade Union Co-ordination Centre (TUCC)
  • Peasants – All India Agragami Kisan Sabha (AIAKS)
  • Youth – All India Youth League (AIYL)
  • Students – All India Students’ Bloc (AISB)
  • Volunteers- Azad Hind Volunteers (AHV)
  • Women – All India Agragami Mahila Samity (AIAMS)
  • Cultural – Bharateeya Lok Samskriti Sansad (BLSS)
  • Teachers – Organisations of Primary, Secondary, College and University teachers affiliated to the Federation of All India Primary, Secondary, College and University Teachers’ and Employees Organisations.
  • Advocates- All India Lawyers’ Federation (AILF)Tribals – All India Tribal Manch (AITM)

 

2.The Party may set up other mass organizations, if any necessary.

3.The Party may form ‘Cell’, if necessary for organizational purposes.

 

ARTICLE V

MEMBERSHIP

  1. There shall be two categories of members in the party i.e. (i) Associate Members and (ii) Active members.
  2. The Party Committee from Primary to Central Committee shall have the right to recruit these two categories of members throughout the year. If there is no primary committee, the next higher committee shall have the right to recruit the membership.
  3. Any citizen of India, 18 years of age or above who accepts the aim and objects of the party as enunciated in the Preamble of the constitution, and the Programme and Constitution of the Party, having experience of work in any frontal organization of the Party, may apply for Associate membership of the party on recommendation of the respective party unit.
  4. Associate members who perform the Party programme and duties effectively, Consistently and sincerely as assigned by the respective party units and having a fair knowledge in theoretical, tactical and organizational principles of the party may apply for Active Membership on recommendation by respective party units.
  1. (a) Party Pledge: Any person intending to join the Party have to sign and submit the following Party Pledge along with the application of Party Membership: “I accept the membership of All India Forward Bloc. I accept the aims, objects and constitution of the Party. I shall educate myself with the teaching, ideology and doctrine of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and shall enrich myself with the doctrine of Socialism enshrined in the party constitution. I shall serve the toiling masses and always keep the interests of the party and the people above my personal interest’.

(b) The primary unit of the Party shall recommend to the Local Committee as to whether an Associate Member will be made an Active Member, and the decision of Local Committee in this regard shall be final subject to the approval of higher committees, up to the level of the Central Committee of party.

Explanation: The Central Committee of the Party shall decide the maximum number of Associate and Active Members in a particular State. Similarly, a State Committee of the Party shall decide the maximum number of Associate and Active Members in a particular district. In such case, the District Committee shall distribute the membership, both Associate and Active, allotted for the district among the lower committees.

  1. The Central Committee of the Party shall prepare the programme for enrolment of members, both Active and Associate every year.
  2. (a) The secretariat of the State/District committees shall from the scrutiny Committee, subject to the approval of the State/District committee to receive complaints as to the enrolment and other membership related issues of members within the state and scrutiny Committee shall submit its report to the Secretariat of the State/District committee within the specified period and the decision taken by the State /District committee shall take decision on it.

(b) State/District Scrutiny Committee shall have to dispose off all the applications within sixty days of the receipt of such applications.

(c) If any case District Scrutiny committee fails to dispose off any such applications within the stipulated time the benefit will go in favour of the applicant.

(d) Any appeal against the decision of the District committee may be made directly to the State committee by the aggrieved party member or applicant (Active /Associate) within seven days from the date of receipt of the decision of the District committee.

(e) Any appeal against the decision of the State Committee may be made directly to the Central Committee by the aggrieved party member (Active /Associate) or applicant within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the decision of the State Committee.

(f) The Central Committee shall have to dispose all the applications regarding membership disputes within ninety days.

  1. The Central Committee shall decide upon the Schedule/time table for check-up renewal/enrolment of membership, both Associate and Active, every year.

Any member who has not taken part in Party activities for a period of six months, or has failed to pay party dues or levy and against whom there are other charges as defined in Article XIII shall be dropped from membership.

[Note: In order to maintain the stable membership, proper precautionary measures are to be adopted at the time of admission, renewal and promotion of members in the Party.]

  1. A member from another left, democratic and secular political party may be admitted as an active member of the Party on the recommendation of the Party unit of appropriate level. The decision shall have to be ratified by the next higher Committee.
  2. A member Associate or Active may resign from the Party by submitting a letter of resignation under his/her own signature to the primary unit of the party with which he or she is attached. Explanation: (a) The primary unit may or may not accept his/her resignation. If the resignation is not accepted, the reason for not accepting the resignation shall have to be intimated to the member, who has resigned. (b) If there is a charge of violation of party discipline against the member of the party, who has submitted the resignation, the party Committee, making such a charge against him/her shall continue the proceedings of action against him/her notwithstanding the fact that he/she has submitted the resignation.
  3. An expelled member of the Party may be readmitted by the decision of the Party Committee which confirmed his/her expulsion, subject to the approval of the higher committee.
  4. All the members both Associate and Active have to renew their membership every four years, preferably before the process of Party Congress begins. But the Party units can enroll both the Associate and Active membership throughout the year and the same has to be submitted to the Central Committee every year for approval.
  5. Membership form can be submitted through online also. The respective State Committees have to scrutinize and enroll them as members.

 

ARTICLE VI

MEMBERSHIP FEE

The Associate Membership fees will be Rs. 40/- (Rs.Fourty) and the Active Membership fee will be Rs. 50/- This has to pay once at the time of enrolment and while renewing it after four years.

 

ARTICLE VII

MEMBERSHIP CARDS

  1. On admission to membership, every Active and Associate member shall be issued a membership card.
  2. Party membership cards shall be uniform throughout the country and shall be issued by the Central Committee.

 

ARTICLE VIII

REGISTER OF MEMBERS

  1. All Party Committees, from primary to central level shall maintain registers of members, both Associate and Active within their respective jurisdiction.
  2. In the event of any member seeking transfer from one place to other place the concerned committee shall take decision subject to the consent of the    committee to which transfer has been sought for with the approval of    higher committees according to the jurisdiction of both the committees.
  3. Any member may avail leave on application stating the grounds.

 

ARTICLE IX

PARTY LEVY

  1. All the Associate and Active members shall have to pay 1% (one percent) of their income as party levy.
  2. The levy shall be collected by the lowest units and that 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 one-point levy. A member, Associate or Active, shall have to pay levy to one committee only, either to the Central   Committee or to the state Committee or to the District Committee or to the local.

Explanation:2. The non-payment of Party Levy by any member shall be considered as violation of Party discipline and proper action by the relevant committee against the member, who has not paid the party levy, shall have to be taken.

Explanation:3. In addition to usual fees and Levis all the party committees may impose extra levy from all/ some party members for better functioning of the party. Besides this, party units of all level, must arrange accordingly to raise fund through public donations, crop-collections and regular sale of party Organs, booklets etc.

ARTICLE X

RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

  1. (a) Active Members – An active member shall have the right to be elected and elect at all levels

(b) Associate member- An Associate member shall have 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 mass organizations and cells, attached to the party.

(d) To take part in discussion in the Party, appropriate levels for formulation of policies and programmes of the party.

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

(f) In case of a difference with any decision of a party unit, a member has the right to submit his or her opinion, in writing, to the higher committee. In such a case, he/she is to keep the criticism of the decision of the Party Unit within the Party and not to disclose anything outside.

(g) To make criticism about Party units and functionaries in Party meetings and not to disclose anything outside.

(h) To be heard in person in his or her unit in the Party when the  unit discusses disciplinary action against him or her.

ARTICLE XI

DUTIES OF MEMBERS

  1. The duties of members are as follows:

(a) To participate in the activities of the Party and to faithfully carry out the  policy, decisions and the directives of the party and to pay regularly the levy as fixed by the party.

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

(c) To observe the Party Constitution and party Discipline.

(d) To study the life and teachings of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the History of Freedom Movement of India, especially revolutionary activities, Indian traditions, cultures, heritages, contemporary developments on national and international scenes.

(e) To study the basic principles of socialism as envisaged by Netaji, socialist experiments in different countries, scientific socialism and other political theories.

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

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

(h) To cultivate comradely relations towards one another within the party.

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

(j) To fight consistently against the forces of secessionism and communalism and to defend the unity and integrity of the nation.

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

(l) To fight against obscurantist, Xenophobic and all other reactionary forces.

(m) To fight for social justice and sustainable developments.

(n) To associate with the activities of at least one of the Mass Fronts of the Party.

ARTICLE XII

PRINCIPLES OF PARTY FUNCTIONING

The following shall be the guiding principles for the functioning 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 all committees.

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

(e) Regular reporting on organizational work and other matters connected with the Party by members.

(f) All the party committees shall follow the principle of progress for the organization through collective decisions with individuals’ responsibility and necessary arrangements of check-up in all levels strictly.

(g) The Central Committee of the party shall take decisions on all National and international issues. It shall also express opinion on such issues which are related with the interests of a numbers of states and where the nation deserves a uniform and identical policy decision. In state and district level the party committee of respective jurisdiction shall express opinion and take decision on all the relevant issues of respective limits. But in no case the decision of the lower committee shall contradict the decision of the higher committees.

(h) The Central Committee of the party is the only authority to express views on such issues which has not been covered before in any stage in the      documents of the Party Congress. Moreover, in any new situation, the highest policy making body of the Party- Central/Central Secretariat may issue statement on behalf of the party.

(i) Free and open discussion should be encouraged in the Party meetings.

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

(k) In all levels of the organization, the process of constructive criticism and self criticism shall be encouraged.

(l) A Presidium consisting 3 to 5 members of the respective Secretariat will be elected to conduct the proceedings of the Local, Zonal, District and State Conferences and Councils and the Party Congress and National Council Meeting.

(m) The Office of the Chairman and General Secretaries at central, state and district levels shall be open for one person for a maximum of three consecutive terms or maximum of 12 years. The same person may be re-                  elected after a gap of at least one Party Congress period.

(n) Once elected, every member of the respective committee must attend its meetings regularly; if absent for three consecutive meetings, necessary actions should be taken against him/her.

ARTICLE XIII

PARTY DISCIPLINE

  1. Acceptance of the Constitution of the Party, the Programme and policies of the Party and the decisions taken by different organs is the very basis of party discipline.
  1. All members, Associate and Active shall be equally bound by Party discipline irrespective of their status in the Pastry organization or in public life.
  1. Steps for action for violation of Party discipline may be taken against a member if he or she is found to have committed one or more of the following offences:

(a) Violation of any provision of the constitution of the Party:

(b) Refusal to obey the decision of the Party at appropriate level and directive issued to him/her by the competent 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 statement in the Press, and writing and publishing of articles in the Press, handbills, booklets, posters, letters against a decision of the Party.

(e) Misconduct in behavior with a members of the Party or anyone outside the Party.

(f) Leaking out of the proceedings of a meeting of Party organ or any other confidential information about the party outside, including the Press.

(g) Misappropriation of Party or public fund.

  1. Charges brought against any member of any committee shall be dealt with by the concerned committee after giving him/her a responsible opportunity of hearing.
  1. In dealing with a case of violation of Party discipline the concerned Party Committee shall first try to settle it by persuasion and to rectify the member.
  2. Any of the following actions may be taken against a member for violation of party discipline:
  • Warning
  • Censoring
  • Suspension from certain responsibility in the Party; relieving from certain responsibilities.
  • Suspension from Party membership for a certain period, or
  • Expulsion from Party membership.

 

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

8. In case the member against whom the charge of violation of party discipline is brought by a party Committee is a member of a higher party Committee, the entire case of such violation shall have to be sent to the higher Committee with the Comments of the Committee with which such charge of violation of party discipline is first raised, for final decision in the matter.

9. A party Committee may take action against immediate lower Committee for violation of party discipline, non-functioning and malfunctioning. The lower Committee shall however, be given responsible opportunity to defend itself. If such situation arises, the higher Committee shall form an ad-hoc Committee for the concerned lower Committee. If the Committee aggrieved, it may appeal to the next higher committee of the committee which has taken the action.

ARTICLE XIV

ALL INDIA PARTY CONGRESS

  1. The Supreme organ of the Party for the whole country shall be the All India Party Congress.
  1. The Party Congress shall ordinarily be held once in four years. The central committee may defer the holding of the party Congress under special circumstances.
  1. (a) Central Committee may convene special extraordinary meeting under special circumstances.

(b) Requisition meeting:- An extra-ordinary Party Congress be requisitioned by one-third of the delegates elected to the last All India party Congress.

(c) The Central committee may convene Special session of the Party to discuss exclusively about the ideological issues and party programme under special circumstances.

The basis of the representation to the Special extra ordinary meeting and plenum shall be determined by the central Committee.

  1. The date and avenue of the Party Congress and Extra -ordinary Party Congress shall be decided by the Central Committee.
  1. The total number of delegates to the Party Congress shall not exceed one thousand in any case.

The basis of the representation to the Congress shall be determined by the Central committee.

  1. Functions and procedures of the regular Party Congress are as follows:

(a) To discuss and adopt the political and organizational report of the Central committee.

(b) To discuss and adopt the draft resolutions on national and international situation and other relevant issues prepared by the Central committee.

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

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

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

(f) To elect the National Council.

(g) To elect Central Committee including the members of the Secretariat

and office-bearers.

ARTICLE XV

NATIONAL COUNCIL

  1. In between the two Party Congress, the National Council shall be the highest policy formulating body of the party.
  1. The Party Congress shall elect the National Council consisting of members’ not exceeding 250.
  1. The National Council shall meet at least once in between two party congresses. The Central Committee shall convene the meeting of the National Council.
  1. The function of the National Council shall be as follows:

(a) To receive report on Party organizations prepared by the Central Committee and to take decision on them.

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

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

ARTICLE XVI

CENTRAL COMMITTEE

  1. The Central Committee shall consist of members not more than 65, including the members of the Secretariat and office bearers, and not below 31. In electing the members of the Central Committee, care should be taken to see that there is at least one member each from all the states where the party has regular state committee.
  2.  The Central Committee shall function for a period from one regular party Congress to the other.
  3. The Central Committee shall be responsible for enforcing the constitution of the Party and for implementation of the decisions adopted by the party Congress, whether regular or extra ordinary and by the National council.
  4. The Central Committee shall take decisions on National and International situation from time to time consistent with the line adopted at the party Congress.
  5. The Central Committee shall discuss political and organizational matters and guide the State Committees.
  6. The Central Committee shall maintain necessary control over the state committees in relation to their activities in the states.
  7. The Central Committee shall monitor the functioning of fronts and mass organizations attached to the Party and Party cells.
  8. The Central Committee is responsible for the Party finances and it shall consider and adopt the statement of accounts, submitted before it by the Secretariat of the Central Committee.
  9. The Central Committee may fill up any vacancy occurring in its composition.
  10. The Central Committee shall meet ordinarily at least once in two months.
  11. The maximum age limit of Central Committee members including the Central Secretariat members shall be 75.
  12. At least 1/10 (One tenth) of Central Committee members should retire from the Committee each Party Congress.
  13. The Central Committee shall be the final authority to accept the membership and to remove a member from the primary membership of the party.

ARTICLE XVII

SECRETARIAT OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Composition and functions:

  1. The Secretariat of the Central Committee shall consist of not more than 15 members, of whom one shall be the Chairman, one Deputy Chairman, one General Secretary.
  2. The Secretariat of the Central Committee shall take decisions on behalf of the Central Committee in between two meetings.
  3. The Secretariat of the Central Committee shall be responsible for the implementation of the decisions taken by the Central Committee.
  4. The Secretariat of the Central Committee shall be responsible for day to day functioning of the office of the Central Committee.
  5. The Secretariat of the Central Committee shall maintain accounts of money received and spent for the work of the Central Committee.
  6. The Bank Account of the Party shall be in the name of the General Secretary, the Finance Secretary and any one of the Secretariat member of the party. Among these three any two shall operate the Bank Account of the party Central Committee.

ARTICLE XVIII

THE STATE CONFERENCE

  1. The State Conference is the supreme organ of the Party in the state, and its session is held as a part of the programme of the Party Congress.
  1. An extra-ordinary Session of the State Conference shall be called by the state Committee at its own discretion or a requisition by one-third of total delegates of the last Conference.
  1. The basis of composition of the State Conference shall be decided by the Secretariat of the State Committee, but the total number of delegates attending the conference shall not be more than 500 not less than 100.
  1. The function of the State Conference shall be as follows:

(a) To discuss and adopt on the political and organizational report placed before it by the State Committee.

(b) To discuss the draft resolution and other documents prepared for the Party Congress by the Central Committee and make comments thereon.

(c) To discuss any matter that may be presented before it by the state Committee. To implement the circular of the Central Committee effectively.

(d) To elect the state council.

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

(f) To elect delegates to the All India Party Congress.

  1. If a State unit does not have at least 1/3rd (One third) of duly elected district committees (Revenue District) through District Conference, that Committee will be treated as State Coordinating Committee. It will not be treated as regular state Committee.

ARTICLE XIX

STATE COUNCIL

  1. There shall be a state council in the state.
  2. The state council shall be the highest body of the Party in between the two state conferences.
  3. The state council shall meet at least once in between the two state conferences.
  4. The basis of Composition of the state council shall be one-fourth of the total delegates of the Conference.
  5. The functions of the state Council shall be as follows:

(a) To discuss reports on Party organizations in the State and to take decision on them.

(b) To discuss any matter, brought before it by the State committee.

(c) To consider and adopt decision on any matter referred to it by the state conference.

  1. To fill the vacancies in the State Committee and State Secretariat and to make changes in the Committees, if necessary, with the permission of the higher committee.

ARTICLE XX

STATE COMMITTEE

  1. The State Committee shall consist of members, not more than 65, including the members of the Secretariat.
  1. The functions of the State Committee shall be as follows:

(a) To implement the decision taken by the State Conference and the State Council.

(b) To enforce the directions of the Central Committee in relation to the activity of the Party in the state.

(c) To organize mass movements in the interests on the toiling masses.

(d) To maintain necessary control over the District Committees in relation to their activities in the Districts.

(e) To monitor the functioning of different fronts and mass organizations, attached to the party and Party cells in the state.

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

  1. The State Committee shall meet ordinarily at least once in two months.
  2. The Bank Account of the State Committee shall be in the name of the General Secretary, the Finance Secretary and any one of the Secretariat member of the Committee. Among these three any two shall operate the bank Account of the Party State Committee.
  3. The maximum age limit of the State Committee member shall be 80.
  4. At least 1/10 (One tenth) of State Committee members should retire from the Committee each State Conference.

ARTICLE XXI

SECRETARIAT OF THE STATE COMMITTEE

  1. The Secretariat of the State Committee shall consist of not more than 15 members, of whom one shall be the Chairman, One Deputy Chairman, one General Secretary and one Finance Secretary.
  2. The Secretariat of the State committee shall take decisions on behalf of the

State committee in between two meetings. Its Proceeding shall be confirmed in next State committee meetings.

  1. The Secretariat of the State committee shall be responsible for the implementations of the decisions taken by the State committee.
  2. The Secretariat of the State committee shall maintain accounts for the money received and spent for the State committee and shall place these accounts before the State committee for consideration and its approval.

ARTICLE XXII

DISTRICT CONFERENCE

  1. The District Conference shall be held immediately before the regular state Conference.
  1. The maximum number of delegates attending a District Conference shall be 250.
  1. (a) There shall be a District Council consisting of members not exceeding one-third of the total number of the delegates to the District Conference. It shall be elected by the District Conference.

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

  1. The functions of the District Conference shall be as follows:

(a) To discuss and adopt the organizational report prepared by the District Committee.

(b) To discuss the draft resolutions prepared for the Party Congress by the Central Committee and make Comments thereon.

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

(d) To elect the District Council and District Committee including the embers of its Secretariat and office bearers.

ARTICLE XXIII

DISTRICT COMMITTEE

  1. There shall be District Committees of the Party for the Districts, ordinarily corresponding to the revenue districts in the states. The state Committee may grant the status of a district for the purpose of formation of a District Committee to any particular area in the state, either by reducing the area of an existing revenue district, or by adding new areas to a revenue district.
  1. The District Committee shall consist of members, not more than 35, including the members of the Secretariat.
  1. The functions of the District Committee shall be as follows:

(a) To implement the decisions taken by the district Conference,

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

(c) To organize mass movement in the interests of the toiling masses.

(d) To maintain necessary control over the Local Committees/Zonal Committees/ Branch Committees in relation to their activity.

(e) To monitor the functioning of different fronts and mass organizations attached to the Party and Party cells in the District.

(f) To manage finances of the Party in the District to consider and adopt the statement of Accounts, submitted before it by the Secretariat of the District Committee.

  1. The functions of the District Council shall be:

(a) To discuss reports on party organizations in the District and to take decisions on them.

(b) To discuss any matter brought before it by the Secretariat of the District Committee.

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

  1. If a District unit does not have at least 1/3rd (One third) of duly elected Zonal committees through Zonal Conference, that Committee will be treated as District Co-coordinating Committee. It will not be treated as regular District Committee.
  2. The District Committee shall meet ordinarily at least once in two months.
  3. The District Committee may convene Special Conference or Convention to discuss about current political situation and to fill the vacancies in the District Committee and Secretariat and to make changes in the committee if necessary with the permission of the higher committee.
  4. The maximum age limit of the District Committee member shall be 75.

ARTICLE XXIV

SECRETARIAT OF THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE

  1. The Secretariat of the District Committee shall consist of 11 members, of whom one shall be the Chairman, one Deputy Chairman, one General Secretary and one Finance Secretary.
  1. The Secretariat of the District Committee shall take decisions on behalf of the District Committee in between two meetings. The proceeding shall be confirmed in next District Committee Meeting.
  1. The Secretariat of the District Committee shall be responsible for the implementation of the decisions taken by the State Committee.
  1. The Secretariat of the District Committee shall maintain accounts for the money received and spent for the District Committee, and shall place the accounts before the District Committee for its considerations and approval.
  1. The General Secretary, the Finance Secretary and any one of the Secretariat members of the District Committee will operate the Bank Account of the District Committee.

ARTICLE XXV

LOCAL COMMITTEE

  1. There shall be the local committee of the Party. It will be elected by the Local Conference.
  2. The territorial jurisdiction of a Local Committee shall be determined by the District Committee. Ordinarily such jurisdiction shall be a block or Police Station Area. A Municipal or Corporation or Panchayat area within a Block area may have separate Local Committee.
  3. The local committee shall consist of members, not more than 21, including one Chairman, one Deputy Chairman, one General Secretary and four Secretaries. The Secretariat of the local Committee shall consist of one Chairman, one Deputy Chairman, one General Secretary and four Secretaries.
  4. The total number of members of a local Committee shall not be less than 7. If it is found that in a particular block or police station area such number of active members are not available; the local committee shall be formed with more than one block or police station area.
  5. The local committee shall be responsible for implementation of the programme of the Party within the area of its jurisdiction.
  6. The local committee shall monitor the activities of fronts and mass organizations attached to the party and party cells within its area.
  7. The Secretariat of the local committee shall maintain the accounts for the money received and spent for the party within its area and place it before the local committee for its consideration and approval.
  8. The General Secretary and one of the secretariat members of the Local Committee will operate the Bank/Post Office accounts of the Local Committee.

ARTICLE XXVI

BRANCH COMMITTEE (PRIMARY UNITS)

  1. The Primary units of the party at the grass root level shall be the Branch Committee.
  2. The Local Committee shall determine the territorial jurisdiction of a Branch Committee with the approval of the District Committee. Ordinarily the jurisdiction of a Branch Committee shall be a ward in the Panchayat/Municipality/Corporation. The Branch Committee may also be formed in the establishment of a factory or an office.
  3. If it is found that in a Branch Committee area of village or Municipal Ward or in a factory or office, such number of active members are not available, the Branch Committee shall be formed with more than one village/ Municipal Ward area/ factory or office.
  4. The Branch Committee shall consist of members not exceeding 11 including one secretary. It shall be elected in a general body meeting of Active and Associate members. The number of Associate members elected to the Branch Committee shall not exceed 5 out of 11.
  5. The Branch Committee shall be responsible for implementation of the programme of the party within the area of its jurisdiction subject to an overall control of the local committee over it.
  6. The Branch committee shall monitor the activities of the fronts and mass organizations attached to the party and Party cells within its area.
  7. The Secretary of the Branch Committee shall be responsible for the accounts of money collected and spent for the party in the Branch Committee area and shall place it before the Branch Committee for its considerations and approval.
  8. The Secretary and one member of the Branch Committee will operate the Bank /post office accounts of the Branch Committee.

ARTICLE XXVII

ZONAL COMMITTEE

  1. The District Committee may decide to form Zonal Committees of the Party in between the Local Committee and the District Committee. The jurisdiction of the Zonal Committee shall be decided by the District Committee in consultation with the next higher committee.
  2. The Zonal Committee shall be composed of not more than 25 members including one General Secretary and six secretaries. The Secretariat of the Zonal Committee shall consist of nine members including the General Secretary and the secretaries.
  3. The Zonal Committee shall be formed by the members of the party, failing within the jurisdiction of such committee, immediately before the formation of the District Committee.
  4. The Zonal Committee shall be responsible for the activities of the party within its territorial jurisdiction, subject to the control of the district committee in this regard.
  5. The Zonal Committee shall be responsible for the monitoring of the functions of fronts and mass organizations of the Party and party cells within the area of its jurisdiction.
  6. The Secretariat of the Zonal Committee shall be responsible for the accounts of money collected and spent for the Party in the area of its jurisdiction and shall place it before the committee for its consideration and approval.

ARTICLE XXVIII

PARTY ACCOUNTS

1.Party accounts, at all levels, should be properly maintained and duly audited and the reports be sent to the next higher committees.

2.All the lower units are to send their statement of accounts including Bank/Post Office accounts to the immediate higher committees every year.

ARTICLE XXIX

REQUISITION MEETING

If the meetings of a Committee are not held regularly in accordance with the constitution and the General Secretary/Secretary is found unwilling to convene the meeting even on the request, the members of such committees have the right to hold requisition meeting.

(a) The requisition shall give notice of their intention to call a requisition meeting. If the General Secretary/Secretary does not call the meeting within one month from the date of receipt of such notice.

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

(b) Requisition meeting of the Councils and/or delegates shall also be held in the same manner and procedure as mentioned above and the requisite number of signatories shall be one-fourth of the total strength.

(c) Before exercising this right the aggrieved member should inform the immediate higher committee in this regard.

ARTICLE XXX

Party shall print and publish party organs at different levels. The organs shall be properties of the party. The Editorial Board for the Organs shall be constituted by the Party committees at respective level.

ARTICLE XXXI

All the Party properties i.e. land, building vehicle, office equipment’s and other materials at different levels shall be under the proprietorship of a trust in the name of late party leaders. The Board of Trustee shall be the Secretariat 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 sub­committee and in case of the council meetings or Delegates’ sessions, the requisite number to form quorum shall be the one-fifth of the total strength

ARTICLE XXXIII

VACANCY

(a) Vacancy caused by resignation or expulsion or death or habitual absence or by any other reason, shall be filled up by the respective party committees, from amongst the category, front or jurisdiction the member belonged to, by co-option.

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

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

(Note: Votes, if necessary for the purpose, shall be by simple majority.)

 

ARTICLE XXXIV

PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITIES OF THE PARTY

  1. Parliamentary Board: The Central Committee may appoint a Parliamentary Board with 7 members which shall-

(a) Confirm or reject, on specific grounds, the applications for party nominations, recommended by the State Parliamentary Boards, approved by the State Committee.

(b) Decide upon the symbol of the party candidates and determine the application and nomination fees, subject to approval of the CC. Attempts must be made to maintain uniformity of symbols throughout the country.

(c) Formulate tactical policies and frame election manifesto on the recommendations of the State Committees, if any.

(d) Take up other matters for the smooth running of the election machinery.

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

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

  1. State Parliamentary Board: The State Parliamentary Board appointed by the State Committee with not more than 7 members shall-

(a) Scrutinize and examine the applications of the willing candidates seeking party nominations for contesting the elections or by-elections to the State or Central Legislature and primarily reject or recommend the cases, recording specific grounds and forward all the papers to the State Committee for consideration.

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

(c) Conduct the elections machinery maintaining uniformity throughout the State.

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

(e) Take up other matters being authorized by the State Committee.

(f) Determine the fees for application and nominations at all levels, keeping conformity with the decisions of the Central Parliamentary Board and shall formulate policies and principles for the smooth running of the election machinery.

(g) The State Secretariat may also act as the State Parliamentary Board provided the State Committee approve or resolve it.

  1. The State Committee, shall however, ratify the recommendations of the State Parliamentary Board a forwarded the applications along with the central quota of the fees to Central Parliamentary Board or Central Secretariat as the case may be for final approval.
  1. District Parliamentary Board: The District Committee shall act as the District Parliamentary Board in respect of the elections to the District Bodies viz. Corporations or Municipalities and Panchayats District Committees on the recommendations of the Local Units shall grant nominations subject to final approval of the State Committee.
  1. State Committee, up to District level elections, shall determine the fees and levies and formulate the basic principles.
  1. The relevant committees of the Party, i.e. the Central, the State and the District, shall maintain full control over the activities of members of the Party who becomes member of Parliament, Legislatures, Ministries, Panchayats or Municipalities, within their respective areas of jurisdiction.
  1. The relevant Party Committees shall be responsible for nomination of Party members, on such bodies and be responsible for their activities there.
  1. The Party members on these bodies shall be responsible for submitting regular reports to the relevant Party Committees regarding their activities in these bodies.
  1. The relevant Party Committees shall have the power to call back any nominated member of the Party from such bodies after giving him/her a chance to be heard in person in this regard.

ARTICLE XXXV

CENTRAL CONTROL COMMISSION

  1. There shall be a Central Control Commission of the Party, elected by the Party Congress, consisting of not more than 9 members.
  1. The Central Committee shall propose the names of members of the Central Control Commission, and once elected, the Central Control Commission shall function till the election of another Central Control Commission by the next Party Congress.
  1. The functions of the Central Control Commission shall be as follows –

(a) To take up a case referred to it by the Party Congress, the National Council, the Central Committee, the Central Secretariat, the State Conference, the State Council, the State Committee or the State Secretariat and to take action thereon.

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

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

  1. The decision of the Central Control Commission shall be considered as final, but if a contrary decision is taken by the State Committee or the District Committee, in this regard by a two-third majority of members present and voting, such decision of the Central Control Commission may be reviewed.

ARTICLE XXXVI

STATE CONTROL COMMISSION

  1. There shall be a State Control Commission of the Party in each state, elected by the State Conference, consisting of not more than 7 members.
  2. The State Committee shall propose the names of the members of the State Control Commission, and once elected, the State Control Commission shall function till the election of another State Control Commission by the next State Conference.
  3. The functions of the State Control Commission shall be as follows:
  • To take up a case referred to it by the State Conference, the State Council, the State Committee, the State Secretariat, the District Secretariat to take action thereon
  • To receive cases where the disciplinary action has been taken by the State Council, the State Committee, the State Secretariat, the District Committee or the District Secretariat and to take action thereon.
  • To receive cases against which appeal has been made to the State Control Commission.
  1. The decision of the Central Control Commission shall be considered as final, but if a contrary decision is taken by the State Committee or the District Committee, in this regard, by a two-third majority of members present and voting, such decision of the State Control Commission may be reviewed.

ARTICLE XXXVII

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE PARTY

The General Secretaries of the Party Committees at all levels shall function as the Chief Executive of the Party at respective levels.

Explanation: In emergency Situation the General Secretaries of all Party

Committees may take decisions on all matters concerning the day to day functioning of the Party. The decision shall be ratified by the next meeting of the Secretariat.

ARTICLE XXXVIII

AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION

The Party Constitution shall be amended generally by the Party Congress or in cases of emergency only by the National Council by a two-third majority of members present and voting.

 

Note: The Constitution of the All India Forward Bloc as amended by the National Council Meeting of the Party held at Bhubaneswar, Odisha on 8th and 9th April 2022.

 

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Printed and published by Debabrata Biswas, General Secretary, All India Forward Bloc, Netaji Bhawan, T-2235/2, Ashok Nagar, Faiz Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi 110 005.