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It swept to power in the students union elections in the following year, which it held till 1983 . In the initial years, there were strong influence of Marxist-Leninist Politics . This character changed considerably through the year as it started espousing a position of open Debate within the organization. Various left currents including Marxist , Anarchist , Post-structuralist , Social-democratic ideals have controlled the overall direction of the organization. It is at present a Radical Left-liberal organization. It had made some lasting effects with respect to the then milieu of medical colleges. MCDSA had championed the ideal of Dr. Norman Bethune and likes. Instead of being "cases" people as an active agent in clinical medicine began to be appreciated in the discourses of medical students. People's Health Movement began to assume some non-nebulous structured language and programs. Its central Slogan is "Democracy - Unity - Progress". It came very near to winning back the students union from the NSUI twice, losing both times to below-the-belt tactics of the Congressites including violence and intimidation. It also has adverserial relations with the Students Federation Of India , with whom clashes have erupted as students hostels at several times in the last years. In July 2005, clashes between the two organizations erupted over recruitment drives amongst new students at the Medical College. MCDSA alleged that SFI had locked up newly admitted students in hostel rooms. SFI alleged that MCDSA members had physically tortured one newcomer and that MCDSA had locked up four SFI members and ransacked rooms belonging to SFI members. Later during the day, police intervened. [http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2005-07-11&usrsess=1&clid=22&id=110627 In the Hostel elections that followed,MCDSA trounced the SFI winning all posts.SFI contested all seats but failed to win a single one.MCDSA remains one of the very few independent left-wing student organizations in the CPI(M) ruled West Bengal which have successfully trounced the pro-government SFI both electorally as well as in "direct action". Various off-shoots and tendencies have been formed at various stages of the organization, at times strengthening it and at times weakening it. They include the NDCC , the Margins Collective and the Cultural Forum among others. It had a historic role in leading the Junior Doctors' Movement of West Bengal in the 1980s . It has shown solidarity at various times with the All India Students Association , Progressive Democratic Students Federation , JUDSF , Independents' Coalition , etc. In the 2005 election to the students union of the Medical College, the MCDSA won 35% of the votes. |
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