By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Aluva (Ernakulam, Kerala): A Sayeed was on Monday re-elected unanimously as the national president of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) for three years for the period of 2015-18.
Sayeed was elected at the two day National Representative Council (NRC) meeting, which concluded at Shanthigiri Ashram in Aluva town of this Ernakulam district.
A Sayeed (TCN file photo)
Born on June 1, 1955, the re-elected national president of SDPI A Sayeed hails from Edappal in Malappuram district of Kerala. He is a retired Public Relations Officer of the Postal Department.
In 2013, Sayeed was elected in place of E Abubacker, the outgoing president, who had completed two terms as president. Sayeed was the national general secretary in the outgoing team of office-bearers of the party then.
EM Abdurrahman, who was the returning officer, also announced the names of other office-bearers along with that of Sayeed. These include three vice presidents, four general secretaries and secretaries each along with a treasurer, who all were also elected on the occasion. The National Working Committee (NWC) amending the party’s constitution has made the term of elected members from two to three years.
The complete team of office-bearers for the term 2015-18, which were elected by the 45-member NWC are as under:
President: A Sayeed; vice presidents: Professor Naznin Begum, Samkutty Jacob & Advocate Sharfuddin Ahmad; general secretaries: Afsar Pasha, Mohammed Shafi, Elyas Mohammed Thumbe and M K Faizy; secretaries: Abdul Majeed Faizy, Rafiq Jabbar Mulla, Abdul Waris and Yasmin Faruqui.
While the national secretariat members are: A Sayeed, Advocate Sharfuddin Ahmad, Samkutty Jacob, Afsar Pasha, M K Faizy, Mohammed Shafi, Elyas Mohammed Thumbe, Abdul Majeed Faizy, E Abubacker, P Koya, Advocate K M Ashraf, Dehlan Baqavi, Mehboob Sharif, Hafiz Manzoor Ali Khan and Noushad Punakkal.
A Sayeed, the re-elected national president of SDPI addressing NRC meeting of the party.
About 225 delegates from 13 states of the country participated in the two-day NRC meeting. Afsar Pasha, the outgoing national general secretary, and Dr Awadh Shareef presented a detailed two years report of the activities of the SDPI since the last NRC, which was held at Coimbatore in April 2013. Prior to this, SDPI president Sayeed hoisted the green-red flag amidst NRC members renting the air with “SDPI Zindabad … SDPI Zindabad” slogans vociferously.
Meanwhile, re-elected president A Sayeed, in his presidential speech after taking over charge for the period 2015-18, said SDPI is a political movement swimming against the stream. It is endeavouring to bring about and develop an alternative political culture.
Elaborating further, Sayeed said the SDPI is a political movement drawing inspirations from the earth as well as skies for its march forward. “Our politics is not the pedestrian politics practised by the traditional political outfits. We put across a meta-politics, distinct from professional politicians and their politics. This concept takes us beyond materialistic political views. As such, we expect not only results but also rewards,” he added.
Sayeed said hero worship is not a healthy tendency in politics. SDPI has no political heroes while some parties are surviving by worshiping their political heroes. People who hate politics and politicians are to be brought in SDPI fold by practicing healthy positive politics. He stressed that it’s in this situation and historic juncture that a wide-spread awareness felt to be necessary for bringing about a vital and fundamental transformation in the society. “A mass collective force pregnant with a mindset that agitates for justice, equality, and ethics has to rise forcefully for the purpose,” he opined.
He lamented that “the majority of the population in the country is being alienated and estranged. All the keys of power and government are in the hands of a small section of the ‘Sawarna’ ruling class. Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis are being preyed to large-scale persecution and exploitation.”
That India is being governed by the intelligence agencies and the Hindutva power-mongers combine is not a secret today, he alleged and added, the spineless political leaders that lack will power are acting merely as their servants.
A Sayeed, national president of SDPI, (in gray kurta) posing with national office-bearers of the party.
Sayeed said that India’s uniqueness is unity in diversity which is under threat. “This should be defended tooth and nail with all our might at our command. Today foreign interference in trade, industry, economy, agriculture and many other sectors have become part and parcel. How to wriggle out of this is situation and formulate policies conducive for the country is our responsibility and that of the masses,” he said and exhorted party cadres and members to put their best foot forward and realise people’s expectations from SDPI so that the party can achieve its goals.
Meanwhile, on the second day of the NRC meet Ilyas Thumbe, NWC member, presented the current political scenario in the country which was followed by group discussions.
A number of resolutions were also passed by voice vote before the NRC meet concluded.