The CPI(ML) Red Star is holding its 13th Party Congress in Raichur, Karnataka, from September 16 to 20, with the party’s invitation material listing several foreign communist and socialist leaders as chief guests at the inaugural ceremony.
The event is being held at the Makhdoom Mohiuddin Nagar (Public Garden) in Raichur. According to the invitation released by the party, the inaugural session is scheduled for September 16 at 10.30 am.
The invitation lists six foreign political figures under the section for “Chief Guests.”
They include Comrade Pabudu Jayagoda of the Frontline Socialist Party, Sri Lanka; Comrade Mwandawiro Mghanga of the Communist Party of Kenya; Comrade S. Nagentran of the Socialist Party of Malaysia; Comrade Santa Bahadur of the Revolutionary Communist Party, Nepal; a representative of the Marxist-Leninist Party of Kurdistan; and Comrade Jahir Sazzad Chondon of the Bangladesh Communist Party.
How are foreign nationals being allowed to participate in a political party convention in Karnataka?
Comrade Pabudu Jayagoda — Frontline Socialist Party, Sri Lanka
Comrade Mwandawiro Mghanga — Communist Party of Kenya
Comrade S. Nagendran — Socialist Party, Malaysia
Comrade Sant… pic.twitter.com/bLrwjNFg65— Girish Bharadwaj (@Girishbdwj) September 15, 2026
The presence of foreign political figures at an Indian political party’s congress has raised eyebrows since there are rules governing foreign nationals’ participation in political events in India.
India’s visa framework places restrictions on the activities foreign nationals may undertake depending on the visa granted to them. The Ministry of Home Affairs’ guidelines for international conferences state that conference visas can be refused where a proposed event involves politically or socially sensitive subjects. The MHA also provides for political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs for foreign nationals participating in certain events in India.
The official MHA guidance, however, does not establish a blanket rule that every foreign national is prohibited from attending every political event in India. The applicability of restrictions depends, among other things, on the nature of the event, the foreign national’s visa category and the permissions or clearances obtained.
The MHA’s conference-visa system specifically requires organisers of international events to provide details of the event and participants where applicable, while political clearance for foreign participants is handled through the Ministry of External Affairs.
The CPI(ML) Red Star invitation describes the foreign leaders as “Chief Guests” for the inauguration rather than merely international observers.
The programme also lists several Indian political and social activists as guests, including Comrade Ashok Onkar, General Secretary of MCPI(U); Comrade Ajay Sinha, General Secretary of PRC CPI(ML); Comrade Balan of the Tamil Nadu Communist Party; Comrade Rajdev of CPI(ML) Janashakti, Andhra Pradesh; Comrade Sumit Ghosh of the Centre for Social Activism; and Comrade Sira Sridhar, State President of Karnataka Janashakti.
The inaugural programme includes a welcome address by Raghavendra Kushtagi, President of the Bhiman Welcome Committee, and will be chaired by R. Manasayya, the chief coordinator of the reception committee. P.J. James, General Secretary of CPI(ML) Red Star, is scheduled to deliver the inaugural address.
The party has given the congress the slogan, “Workers and oppressed people, unite!” The invitation also carries the call to “Defeat imperialism and fascism.”
The event is scheduled to continue until September 20.
Separately, India’s Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act places restrictions on the acceptance of foreign contributions by political parties and persons associated with them. The legislation specifically bars acceptance of foreign contributions on behalf of political parties under the circumstances set out in the Act.
The key issue in the Raichur event is therefore whether the foreign delegates have entered India under visas and permissions that permit their participation in the political congress, and whether the organisers obtained any clearances required for their presence and participation.
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