Social Democratic Party of India

Manifesto

Social Democratic Party of India has put forth the slogan of "Freedom from Hunger and Freedom from Fear" in its manifesto in first National Delegates Meet on 18 October 2009. The manifesto calls for the empowerment of all marginalized sections of the society by mobilizing themselves into a political force, instead of remaining as mere vote banks of different political parties in elections. It has demanded balanced representation of all social groups in legislatures and all administrative bodies nominated by government, in proportion to their population. Abubacker, in his presidential address said SDPI wants to unite Muslims to make them a force to reckon with so that its importance is recognized and is granted its constitutional rights.

Ideology

Social Democratic Party of India shall stand for the realization of a social order and political system based on the great ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity enshrined in the Indian Constitution. It shall mobilise the people to enjoy civil rights through democratic struggles including elections. Social Democratic Party of India shall strive for the establishment of governance in the Union and the States, capable of fulfilling equal rights to all citizens and all classes in India. It aims to unite all depressed classes in a national political movement. Social Democratic Party of India upholds a political ideology founded on the following principles:

Activities

The SDPI has been involved with several socio-political causes

Education

In line with the mandate of the Right to Education, the SDPI sought 25% of seats in private schools in the district of Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu for the academic year 2015. The petition to the District Collector also asked for transparency in school admissions and fee structure.

Delivering Justice

In April 2015, the SDPI protested against the Police killings of the 20 workers from Tamil Nadu working in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The party accused the AP police of staging a fake encounter in the name of self-defence. The party demanded the government to lodge a criminal case against the police personnel responsible for these killings.

Public Welfare

In February 2016, around 30 cadres attempted to stage ‘sleeping protest’ in front of the Divisional Office of Department of Highways, protesting to repair of the Palayamkottai – Papanasam Road (in Tamil Nadu). Other political parties and the public had been repeatedly appealing to the Department of Highways to have this 52-km stretch re-laid. The officials had chosen to ignore the plea and were keen on re-laying only stretches that was used by Ministers and other VIPs during the Governor's visit to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University,earlier.

Women's Rights

The Jisha Murder Case in 2016 had created statewide agitation for a speedier justice.

The SDPI along with the DYFI had blocked the Kerala CM Oommen Chandy who had come to Perumbavur to meet the kin of Jisha's. Post visit, the CM said that the The investigations are being carried out with efficiency

Preservation of Religious sentiments

In March 2016, the Mathrubhumi had reproduced an offensive comment about Prophet Muhammad that was initially posted on Facebook.

The paper was forced to offer an apology after the party and other organisations outlined how the post had "hurt the sentiments of the community", with strong protest outside the newspaper's office

Charges and Accusations

Several SDPI offices have been raided by Kerala Police, Suspected weapons training camps and arms stockpiling were seized in Narath, Kannur district from the offices and other centers of PFI and SDPI. Though the party denied any involvement, the charge-sheet filed by National Investigation Agency (NIA) blamed Popular Front of India (PFI) and their political outfit Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in conducting arms training camps across the state under the pretense of health awareness camps and yoga classes. According to the FIR, the 24 accused in the case were reportedly the members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).Cases were registered under sections 143, 147, 153(B), R/W 149 of IPC, section 5(1)(a) r/w 25(1)(a) of Arms Act, section 4 of Explosives Act and section 18 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of the Indian Penal Code.

4 SDPI activists were arrested for attack on two Communist Party of India (Marxist)(CPI-M) members at Mangalam, Tirur, on 29 January 2014. SDPI accepted the responsibility after a video of this violent attack was aired by major television channels. However the party justified the attacks reasoning that it needs to safeguard its members. As per the party's District President,the attack was just an emotional reaction from its members to an attack the CPM executed against one of its members on the same morning.

Controversy

In 2014 a private school in south Kerala removed Vande Mataram from their Independence Day programme after workers of the SDPI threatened to disrupt the programme, saying that some of the words in the song were against the religious beliefs of the Muslim community. The school also dropped the namaste gesture from a dance number performed during Independence Day celebrations, inviting sharp criticism from various quarters. The national song was dropped after several rounds of rehearsals. When the issue snowballed into a raging controversy, school management denied any external pressure. SDPI justified the changes in the programme saying that they approached the school management after a number of parents complained that some words in Vande Matraam and the gesture namaste were against their religious beliefs.

On False Accusations

In 2015, the acquitted SDPI candidate, Dr. Anas accused the NIA and the police of falsely targeting both the SDPI and the Popular Front of India. Dr. Anas had won the block panchayat election while in prison for the palm chopping case. The victory "reflected public sentiments against police action".

Regional presence

SDPI has representations in 16 states of India including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andrapradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Manipur. It has made state level and district level local committees in most of the states. SDPI has shown its presence in recent elections 68 SDPI Candidate Won BBMP election held in Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan. The party won 14 seats in four municipalities in the 2010 local body election in Kerala. It won 62 seats in the Local body election 2011 in Tamil Nadu. Karnataka saw more than one lakh votes polled in favor of the party in the 24 Assembly segment but the party's individual candidates did not win any seat. He pointed out forming local alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party to underline his party's secular credentials. However, by nominating only two non-Muslim candidates in the 24 constituencies (both in reserved constituencies), the SDPI reaffirmed its image as a party in pursuit of the Muslim vote. The SDPI State president also claimed that as the national level, the party shares a good rapport with the Janata Dal (United) as well as the Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party.

Presence in Indian general election, 2014

The SDPI is to field 30 candidates in 6 states. The party's 2014 Election Manifesto, contained several issues concerning domestic and foreign policies. The basic needs of the people, democratic rights, eradication of corruption, SCs/STs, Minorities etc. A new national water policy, implementation of Ranganath Mishra Commission and Sachar Committee reports, 100% literacy by 2020, eradication of corruption. All international treaties related to India is to be ratified by the Parliament & the Nehruvian period status should be reinstated as the leader of the Non-alignment movement. The manifesto also included the need for 10% reservation to Muslims with the inclusion of Muslim and Christian dalits in the SC category with the sub-plan for minorities and reservation for women of SC, ST, OBC and minorities in the Lok Sabha. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and AFSPA would be repealed, and the enactment of Communal Violence (Prevention) Bill would be at the top priority of the party. The bill was heavily criticized by human rights groups and lawyers. Despite, being a young party, it is poised to influence the Muslim votes for years to come. The criticism and demands raised by the party in the Electioneering campaign seem sensible. In the state of Kerala, the party, with the candidates in Ponnani and Malappuram, offered to lead an alternative to Left-Right politics that the state has seen for decades. In the state of Karnataka, the Social Democratic Party of India is being supported by the Janata Dal (Secular) in Dakshin Kannada. The JD-S has extended its support "on the principles and ideologies laid by the party at the time of its (SDPI's) birth". The party had put a decent show in the Karnataka Local Body elections in 2013 by winning 17 seats. Among the various parties who contested for the Indian general election, 2014 in Kerala, SDPI had the highest number of candidates with criminal charges. Fourteen out of the party's 20 candidates faced criminal charges.7 out of 17 candidates from the BJP, 6 out of 9 from the CPI(M), 6 out of 15 from the Congress, all four candidates of CPI, and 3 out of the 20 candidates from the BSP had criminal cases against them. In the recent election held in Karnataka State for Punchayath, SDPI contesrted in 375 seats and won 74 seats and secured 2nd position in 97 places. Thus it has gradually strengthening its political base in Karnataka state.

Presence in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, 2016

Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) today said it would contest the May 16 Assembly polls on its own in 30 seats and announced the list of candidates.

Releasing the list to the media, SDPI State President K K S M Thegalaan Bhaagavi said his party would face the elections with the slogan 'driving out selfish politics and protecting public welfare politics'.

He said the party's election manifesto would be released on April 28.

He also appealed to the people to vote for the party in the 'Gas Cylinder' symbol.

Mr Bhaagavi said the party has fielded SDPI State Vice-President from Salem North and State Secretary G Abdul Sathar in Chidambaram.

It has also fielded a woman candidate.

Presence in Kerala Legislative Assembly election, 2016

The general election for the fourteenth legislative assembly was held on May 16, 2016 to elect representatives of the 140 constituencies in Kerala.The party has fielded candidates in 89 constituencies independently.

The SDPI was reported to resort to tactical voting in constituencies where there is a winning chance for the BJP in the assembly elections. The party have not fielded candidates in such constituencies, mostly in Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod districts.

"Our party will conduct a survey using its machinery to find out which front is capable of defeating the BJP in crucial constituencies. We have our own mechanism to gauge the mood of the people and we will act accordingly. The support would vary from constituency to constituency considering the chances of winning," said the state president K M Ashraf

The SDPI allied with the Samajwadi Party (SP) fielding 20 seats. The SDPI-SP combine would support Mr P.C. George in Poonjar

The SDPI Pathanamathita district president Jyotish Perumpulickal will contest from Adoor and SP State secretary Sreekanth Vallicaud will be fielded in Aranmula. The combine will be fielding candidates in all the five Assembly segments of Aranmula, Ranni, Konni, Adoor, and Thiruvalla for the elections in the district.The result was declared on May 19, 2016.