The Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) is a political party in West Bengal in India. The PDS was founded in February 2001 by former

Communist Party of India (Marxist) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (abbreviated as CPI(M)/CPIM/CPM) is a Marxism–Leninism, Marxist–Leninist communist List of political parties in India, political party in India. It is the largest communist party of India in term ...

leaders

Saifuddin Choudhury Saifuddin Choudhury (1 August 1952 – 14 September 2014), was an Indian politician who was a CPI(M) leader and MP from West Bengal state of India. In February 2001 he formed Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS). Political career He was e ...

and Samir Putatundu. The PDS was in opposition to the Left Front government in

West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...

History

The PDS was founded by Saifuddin Chaudhury on 21 February 2001. Samir Putatunda, who had been expelled from CPI(M), joined the new party.

Alliances

Initially there was speculation that the PDS would joint with the All India Trinamool Congress, or else that it would be a constituent of an anti-CPI(M) ''

mahajot Sanjukta Morcha alternatively Sanyukta Morcha (), was a political alliance formed ahead of the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election as an alternative to the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. It was led by Communist Party ...

'' (broad front), but the link between Trinamool and the Hindu rightist

Bharatiya Janata Party The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP; ; ) is a political party in India, and one of the two major Indian political parties alongside the Indian National Congress. Since 2014, it has been the ruling political party in India under Narendra Modi ...

hindered such a development. The PDS has formed relations with other pro-Congress leftist outfits, such as the

Communist Marxist Party Communist Marxist Party (CMP) was a political party in Kerala. The party was founded in 1986 when CPI(M) leader M. V. Raghavan was expelled from the CPI(M) due to a grave difference of opinion regarding the formation of alliances with the IUM ...

in Kerala and the

United Communist Party of India United Communist Party of India (UCPI), is a political party in India. It was formed in 1989 when Indian Communist Party led by Com. Mohit Sen along with Com Ramesh Sinha, M. Kalyanasundaram, K.Manickam, D. Pandian, and SU. Palanisamy; All ...

. PDS participates in the

Confederation of Indian Communists and Democratic Socialists Confederation of Indian Communist and Democratic Socialists (CICDS) was a confederation of pro- left-wing parties in India.''Times of India''. Cong offers two seats to Communist Confederation' The constituent parties of CICDS included: * United C ...

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Elections

Ahead of the

state assembly elections in 2001, the PDS had launched their own front. The PDS put up 98 candidates, who together got 219,082 votes (0.6% of the votes in the state). None of their candidates were elected. Ahead of the

Lok Sabha The Lok Sabha, constitutionally the House of the People, is the lower house of India's bicameral Parliament, with the upper house being the Rajya Sabha. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by an adult universal suffrage and a first-past ...

elections in 2004, the PDS had joined hands with Congress, and put up two candidates supported by Congress.

Organisation

The flag of the PDS is a red flag with a red star in a white circle. The president of the PDS is Saifuddin Chaudhury, the general secretary is Samir Putatundu (formerly the CPI(M) South 24 Paraganas district secretary), and the treasurer is Subir Chaudhury. The women's organization of the PDS is called ''Paschim Banga Nari Sanghati Samiti'' (West Bengal Women's United Association). The president of PBNSS is Kishwar Jahan. The PDS publishes ''Natun Path'' (New Way).

References

{{reflist

External links

Party of Democratic Socialism

Cong offers two seats to Communist Confederation
Political parties in West Bengal Communist Party of India (Marxist) breakaway groups 2001 establishments in West Bengal Political parties established in 2001 Democratic socialist parties in Asia Secularist organizations