| Part ofa series on |
| Communist parties |
|---|
 |
Asia
|
Europe
|
Oceania
|
International organizations |
TheCommunist Party of India (Marxist) (abbreviated asCPI(M)) is acommunistpolitical party inIndia.[2] It is the largest communist party in India in terms of membership and electoral seats, and one of the sixnational parties of India.[9] The party was founded througha splitting from theCommunist Party of India in 1964; the CPI(M) quickly became the dominant faction.
The 34 years ofCPI(M)-ledLeft Front rule inWest Bengal was the longest-serving democratically elected communist-led government in the world. It emerged as the third largest party of theparliament in the2004 national election. Presently, CPI(M) is a part of ruling alliances in two states - theLDF inKerala, which it leads, and theSPA inTamil Nadu. It also has representation in the legislative assemblies of seven states.
The All-India Party Congress is the supreme authority of the CPI(M).[10] However, during the time between two party congresses, the Central Committee is the highest decision-making body.[10] TheCentral Committee shall elect from among its members aPolit Bureau including the General Secretary.[10] The Polit Bureau carries on the work of the Central Committee between its two sessions and has the right to take political and organisational decisions in between two meetings of the Central Committee.[10]
CPI(M) had a totalincome of ₹1,620,000,000 in fiscal year 2021–22. The party reported zerofunding fromelectoral bonds.[11][12]
CPI(M) is officially known asभारत की कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी (मार्क्सवादी) [Bhārat kī Kamyunisṭ Pārṭī (Mārksvādī)] in Hindi, but it is often known asमार्क्सवादी कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी (Mārksvādī Kamyunisṭ Pārṭī, abbreviatedMaKaPa) in press and media circles. During its initial years after the split, the party was often referred to by different names such as 'Left Communist Party' or 'Communist Party of India (Left)'. The party has used the name 'Left' because CPI people were dubbed 'rightist' in nature for their support of the Congress-Nehru regime. During the Kerala Legislative Assembly elections of 1965, the party adopted the name 'Communist Party of India (Marxist)'. It also applied to obtain its election symbol from theElection Commission of India.[13]
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) emerged from a division within theCommunist Party of India. The CPI had experienced an upsurge in support during the years following theWorld War II; it had also led armed rebellions inTelangana,Tripura, and Kerala. However, it soon abandoned the strategy of armed revolution in favor of working within theParliament framework. In 1950,B. T. Ranadive, the CPI general secretary and a prominent representative of the radical sector inside the party, was demoted on grounds of left-adventurism.[14]
Under the government of theIndian National Congress party ofJawaharlal Nehru, independent India developed close relations and a strategic partnership with theSoviet Union. The Soviet government consequently wished that the Indian communists moderate their criticism towards the Indian state and assume a supportive role towards the Congress governments. However, large sections of the CPI claimed that India remained a semi-feudal country and thatClass conflict could not be put on the back-burner for the sake of guarding the interests of Soviet trade and foreign policy.[15] Moreover, the Indian National Congress appeared to be generally hostile towards political competition. In 1959 the central government intervened to imposePresident's rule in Kerala, toppling theE. M. S. Namboodiripad cabinet (the sole non-Congress state government in the country).[16]
The basis of difference in opinion between the two factions in CPI was ideological – about the assessment of the Indian scenario and the development of a party programme. This difference in opinion was also a reflection of whether the Communist Party in India would toe the line of theCommunist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) or follow an independent path based on the concrete analysis of the Indian situation. The alleged 'right-wing' inside the party followed the Soviet path[17] whereas the 'left-wing' wanted to follow the mass party with a class line with national characteristics, based on the 'independent' development of socialism in accordance to the India situation. Moreover, the faction of CPI which later became CPI(M) referred to the "right" strategy as a national approach of class collaboration; this was a damning charge within the communist movement, in which the prioritization of working-class interests and independence is considered paramount.[17][18] Ideological difference also grew on the analysis of the role and character of the Indian bourgeoisie and the character of the Indian revolution. While the 'right wing' in the party sought the Indian bourgeoisie to have a 'progressive' character and called for a national democratic revolution, the 'left wing' sought the character of the Indian bourgeoisie to be essentially reactionary and called for a peoples' democratic revolution. However as the 'left wing' grew, the Congress and the party's 'right wing' dubbed them as pro-Chinese and essentially made extensive efforts to incriminate them of committing 'anti-national' activities. This ideological difference later intensified, and ultimately gave rise to the establishment of CPI(M).[19]
Hundreds of CPI leaders, accused of being pro-Chinese, were imprisoned. Thousands of Communists were detained without trial.[a][17]The CPI(M) has a strong history of championing labour rights[21] and it supports the rights of industrial labourers, demanding fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to unionize.
In 1962,Ajoy Ghosh, the General Secretary of the CPI died. After his death,Shripad Amrit Dange was installed as the party chairman (a new position) and E.M.S. Namboodiripad as general secretary. This was an attempt to achieve a compromise.
At a CPI National Council meeting held on 11 April 1964, 32 Council members walked out.[b]
The leftist section, to which the 32 National Council members belonged, organized a convention inTenali, Andhra Pradesh 7 to 11 July. In this convention, the issues of the internal disputes in the party were discussed. 146 delegates, claiming to represent 100,000 CPI members, took part in the proceedings. The convention decided to convene the 7th Party Congress of CPI inCalcutta later the same year.[23]
Marking a difference from the official sector of CPI, the Tenali convention was marked by the display of a large portrait of the Communist leader of China,Mao Zedong.[23]
At the Tenali convention, a Bengal-based pro-Chinese group, representing one of the most radical streams of the CPI left-wing, presented a draft programme proposal of their own. These radicals criticized the draft programme proposal prepared byMakineni Basavapunnaiah for underminingclass conflict and failing to take a clear pro-Chinese position in the ideological conflict between the CPSU and the CPC.[c]
After the Tenali convention, the CPI left-wing organized party district and state conferences. InWest Bengal, a few of these meetings became battlegrounds between the most radical elements and the more moderate leadership. At the Calcutta Party District Conference, an alternative draft programme was presented to the leadership by Parimal Das Gupta (a leading figure amongst far-left intellectuals in the party). Another alternative proposal was brought forward to the Calcutta Party District Conference byAziz ul Haq, but Haq was initially banned from presenting it by the conference organizers. At the Calcutta Party District Conference, 42 delegates opposed M. Basavapunniah's official draft programme proposal.[25]
At the Siliguri Party District Conference, the main draft proposal for a party programme was accepted; some additional points suggested by the far-left North Bengal cadreCharu Majumdar were added. However,Hare Krishna Konar (representing the leadership of the CPI left-wing) forbade the raising of the sloganMao Tse-Tung Zindabad (Long live Mao Tse-Tung) at the conference.[25]
Parimal Das Gupta's document was also presented to the leadership at the West Bengal State Conference of the CPI leftwing. Das Gupta and a few others spoke at the conference, demanding the party ought to adopt the class analysis of the Indian state of the 1951 CPI conference. His proposal was, however, voted down.[25]
The Calcutta Congress was held between 31 October and 7 November, at Tyagraja Hall in southernCalcutta.[26] Simultaneously, the CPI convened a Party Congress inBombay.[27] The group which assembled in Calcutta would later adopt the name 'Communist Party of India (Marxist)', to differentiate themselves from the CPI. The CPI(M) also adopted its own political programme.Puchalapalli Sundarayya was elected general secretary of the party.[17][18]
In total, 422 delegates took part in the Calcutta Congress. CPI(M) claimed that they represented 104,421 CPI members; this is 60% of the total party membership.[28]
At the Calcutta conference, the party adopted a class analysis of the character of the Indian state, that claimed the Indianbourgeoisie was increasingly collaborating withimperialism.[29]
Parimal Das Gupta's alternative draft programme was not circulated at the Calcutta conference. However,Souren Bose, a delegate from the far-left strongholdDarjeeling, spoke at the conference asking why no portrait had been raised of Mao Tse-Tung along with the portraits of other communist stalwarts. His intervention was met with huge applause from conference delegates.[29]
The CPI (M) was born into a hostile political climate. At the time of the holding of its Calcutta Congress, large sections of its leaders and cadres were jailed without trial. Again on 29–30 December, over a thousand CPI (M) cadres were arrested and detained and held in jail without trial.[30] In 1965, new waves of arrests of CPI(M) cadres took place inWest Bengal, as the party launched agitations against the rise in fares in theCalcutta Tramways Company and against the then-prevailing food crisis. Statewide general strikes andhartals were observed on 5 August 1965, 10–11 March 1966, and 6 April 1966.[30] The March 1966 general strike resulted in several deaths during confrontations with police forces.[30]
Also in Kerala, mass arrests of CPI(M) cadres were carried out during 1965. InBihar, the party called for aBandh (general strike) inPatna on 9 August 1965 in protest against the Congress state government.[30] During the strike, police resorted to violent actions against the organizers of the strike. The strike was followed by agitations in other parts of the state.[30]
P. Sundaraiah, after being released from jail, spent the period of September 1965 – February 1966 in Moscow for medical treatment. In Moscow, he also held talks with the CPSU.[30]
The Central Committee of CPI(M) held its first meeting on 12–19 June 1966. The reason for delaying the holding of a regular CC meeting was that several of the persons elected as CC members at the Calcutta Congress were jailed at the time.[d] A CC meeting had been scheduled to have been held inThrissur during the last days of 1964, but had been canceled due to the wave of arrests against the party. The meeting discussed tactics for electoral alliances and concluded that the party should seek to form a broad electoral alliance with all non-reactionary opposition parties in West Bengal (i.e. all parties exceptBharatiya Jana Sangh andSwatantra Party). This decision was strongly criticized by the Communist Party of China (CPC), theParty of Labour of Albania, theCommunist Party of New Zealand, and the radicals within the party itself. The line was changed at a National Council meeting inJalandhar in October 1966, where it was decided that the party should only form alliances with select left parties.[32]
At this point, the party stood at crossroads. There were radical sections of the party who were wary of the increasing parliamentary focus of the party leadership, especially after the electoral victories in West Bengal and Kerala. Developments in China also affected the situation inside the party. In West Bengal, two separate internal dissident tendencies emerged, which both could be identified as supporting the Chinese line.[e]
In 1967, a peasant uprising broke out inNaxalbari, in northern West Bengal. The insurgency was led by hardline district-level CPI(M) leadersCharu Majumdar andKanu Sanyal. The hardliners within CPI(M) saw the Naxalbari uprising as the spark that would ignite the Indian revolution. Majumdar and others broke from CPI(M).[35]: 120 The CPC hailed the Naxalbari movement, causing an abrupt break in CPI(M)-CPC relations.[f] Majumdar and his group formed theMaoist-orientedCommunist Party of India (Marxist-Leninst) in 1969.[35]: 120
The Naxalbari movement was violently repressed by the West Bengal government, of which CPI(M) was a major partner. Within the party, the hardliners rallied around anAll India Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries.[38] Following the 1968Burdwan plenum of CPI(M) (held on 5–12 April 1968), the AICCCR separated itself from CPI(M).[39] This split divided the party throughout the country. But notably in West Bengal, which was the center of the violent radicalized stream, no prominent leading figure left the party. The party and theNaxalites (as the rebels were called) were soon to get into a bloody feud.[40]
In Andhra Pradesh, another revolt was taking place. There the pro-Naxalbari dissidents had not established any presence. However,in the party organization, there were many veterans from the Telangana armed struggle; they rallied against the central party leadership. In Andhra Pradesh, the radicals had a strong base even amongst the state-level leadership. The main leader of the radical tendency wasT. Nagi Reddy, a member of the state legislative assembly. On 15 June 1968, the leaders of the radical tendency published a press statement outlining the critique of the development of CPI(M). It was signed by T. Nagi Reddy, D.V. Rao, Kolla Venkaiah, andChandra Pulla Reddy.[g]
In total, around 50% of the party cadres in Andhra Pradesh left the party to form theAndhra Pradesh Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries, under the leadership of T. Nagi Reddy.[h]
In November 1967, the West Bengal United Front government was dismissed by the central government. Initially, the Indian National Congress formed a minority government led byPrafulla Chandra Ghosh, but that cabinet did not last long.[42] Following the proclamation that the United Front government had been dislodged, a 48-hour hartal was effective throughout the state.[43] After the fall of the Ghosh cabinet, the state was put under President's Rule. CPI(M) launched agitations against the interventions of the central government in West Bengal.[44][45]
The 8th Party Congress of CPI(M) was held inKochi, Kerala, on 23–29 December 1968. On 25 December 1968, whilst the congress was held, 42Dalits wereburned alive in theTamil Nadu village ofKizhavenmani. The massacre was a retaliation from landlords after Dalit labourers had taken part in a CPI(M)-led agitation for higher wages.[46][47]
The United Front government in Kerala was forced out of office in October 1969, as the CPI, RSP, KTP, and Muslim League ministers resigned. E.M.S. Namboodiripad handed in his resignation on 24 October.[48] A coalition government led by CPI leaderC. Achutha Menon was formed, with the outside support of theIndian National Congress.
Fresh elections were held in West Bengal in 1969. CPI(M) contested 97 seats and won 80. The party was now the largest in the West Bengal legislative.[i] However, with the active support of CPI and theBangla Congress,Ajoy Mukherjee was returned as Chief Minister of the state. Mukherjee resigned on 16 March 1970, after a pact had been reached between CPI, Bangla Congress, and the Indian National Congress against CPI(M). CPI(M) strove to form a new government, instead but the central government put the state under President's Rule.
Though land reform was successfully done in threeIndian states (West Bengal,Kerala, andTamil Nadu), India's first land reform was done inWest Bengal in 1967, under the leadership of two Communist leaders:Hare Krishna Konar andBenoy Choudhury, in whichHare Krishna Konar played a leading role in getting surplus land held by big land owners in excess of land ceiling laws and kept ‘benami' (or false names) vested with the state. The quantum of land thus vested was around one million acres (4,000 km2) of good agricultural land. Subsequently, under the leadership ofHare Krishna Konar andBenoy Choudhury land was distributed amongst 2.4 million landless and poor farmers. Later after 1970 the united front government of west Bengal fail and the land reform was also stopped for seven years and after left front came in West Bengal in 1977 this land reform was renamed toOperation Barga and this barga was the notable contribution to the people fromLeft Front Government of West Bengal. To begin with, group meetings between Officials and Bargadars were organized during "settlement camps" (also called "Reorientation camps"), where the bargadars could discuss their grievances. The first such camp was held at Halusai in Polba taluk inHooghly district from 18 to 20 May 1978. In noted camp, two Adibashi Borgaders objected procedure adopted by the official forBarga Operation. They suggested to start it organising people in the field instead of sitting in the houses of rural rich people or the places dominated by them.[49][50][51]
Centre of Indian Trade Unions, CITU is a National levelTrade Union in India and its trade union wing is a spearhead of the Indian Trade Union Movement.[52] The Centre of Indian Trade Unions is today one of biggest assembly of workers and classes of India. It has strong unchallengeable presence in theIndian state of Tripura besides a good presence inWest Bengal, Kerala andKanpur. They have an average presence inTamil Nadu andAndhra Pradesh.
According to the provisional statistics from theMinistry of Labour, CITU had a membership of approximately 6,040,000 in 2015.[53]Tapan Kumar Sen is the General Secretary andK. Hemalata is the president of CITU. K. Hemalata was the first woman President in CITU who was elected afterA. K. Padmanabhan.[54] It runs a monthly organ namedWorking Class. CITU is affiliated to theWorld Federation of Trade Unions.[55]
In 1971,Bangladesh (formerlyEast Pakistan) declared its independence fromPakistan. The Pakistani military tried to quell the uprising. India intervened militarily and gave active backing to theBangladeshi rebels.[56] Millions of Bangladeshi refugees sought shelter in India, especially in West Bengal.[57]
At the time, the radical sections of the Bangladeshi communist movement were divided into manyfactions. Whilst the pro-SovietCommunist Party of Bangladesh actively participated in the rebellion, the pro-China communist tendency found itself in a peculiar situation as China had sided with Pakistan in the war. In Calcutta, where many Bangladeshi leftists had sought refuge, CPI(M) worked to co-ordinate the efforts to create a new political organization. In the fall of 1971 three small groups, which were all hosted by the CPI(M), came together to form theBangladesh Communist Party (Leninist). The new party became the sister party of CPI(M) in Bangladesh.[j]
In 1975, thePrime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi imposed aState of emergency on the premise of internal disturbances suspending elections, legitimisingrule by decree and curbingcivil liberties.[58] The proposition for the declaration of the emergency and the formal draft of the ordinance were both notably corroborated to have been forwarded bySiddhartha Shankar Ray.[59][60][61] The Communist Party of India (Marxist) emerged as one of the primary opposition toThe Emergency (India).[58] The following period witnessed a succession ofauthoritarian measures and political repression, which was particularly severe in West Bengal.[62] The members of the CPI-M's labour union became the first subject to political repression andmass arrests while the rest of the members of the CPI-M went underground.[63]
With the initiation of theJayaprakash Narayan (JP)'s movement, the CPI-M began providing support to it and went on to participate in discussions for the creation of a united front under the umbrella of theJanata Party. Several of the leaders of the CPI-M were also influenced by JP withJyoti Basu noted to be one of his prominent admirers having worked under him in theAll India Railwaymen's Federation during the 1940s.[63] The involvement of theHindutva movement however complicated matters, according to JP the formal inclusion of the marxists who had undergone a splintering and whose organisation was localised in particular region would have been detrimental to the movement as theRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh members would switch sides if they joined.[63][64] JP and Basu eventually came to an agreement that the CPI-M would not formally join the Janata Party as it would weaken the movement.[63] After the revocation of the emergency, the CPI-M joined an electoral alliance with the Janata Party in the1977 Indian general election which resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Janata Alliance.[65]
CPI(M) West Bengal under the leadership of Jyoti Basu fought the1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election. Initially, the election was planned to fight in alliance with theJanata Party, but the negotiations between the parties broke down.[66] This led to a three sided contested between theIndian National Congress, the Janata Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) ledLeft Front coalition. The results of the election was a surprising sweep for the Left Front winning 230 seats out of 290 with the CPI-M winning an absolute majority on its own, Basu became theChief Minister of West Bengal. From the 1977 election through to 2011, the CPI(M) ledLeft Front won seven consecutive elections. Under Jyoti Basu's leadership theLeft Front won,1977,1982,1987,1991,1996 elections. For the next 23 years he was theChief Minister of West Bengal making him the longest serving at this position.[67]
In the late 2000s, theLeft Front saw a change in leadership. Under the leadership ofBuddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the Left Front won the elections of2001 elections and2006. From 2000 to 2011, remained theChief Minister of West Bengal for 11 years.
Following the events of2007 Nandigram anti land acquisition violence[68] and the2006 Singur anti land acquisition violence, led by opposition parties in West Bengal. In the2011 assembly election lost the elections marking the end of 34-year rule ofLeft Front, the longest-serving democratically elected communist government in the world, a fact that was noted by international media.[69][70] After2021 elections the Left Front has no representatives in theWest Bengal Legislative Assembly.
After theCPI split in 1964, prominent communist leader in KeralaE.M.S. Namboodiripad,A. K. Gopalan andK. R. Gouri Amma stood with the Communist Party of India (Marxist). One year after the split, in the1965 elections CPI(M) which was splinter faction of CPI, emerged as the largest party in the assembly with 40 seats. Where CPI settled with 3 seats only. However no single party could form a ministry commanding majority and hence this election is considered abortive.President's rule was invoked for the fourth time.[71][72]
In the1967 Kerala assembly election both communist parties - CPI (M) and CPI - along with smaller parties including SSP and Muslim League contested this election as a United Front. A total of seven parties contested in the front, and the front was known asSaptakakshi Munnani.[73] The CPI(M) led front won the election with a record 113 seats out of 133 seats and formed the government underE.M.S. Namboodiripad.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, two main pre-poll political alliances were formed: theLeft Democratic Front (LDF) led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India and the United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Indian National Congress. These pre-poll political alliances of Kerala have stabilized strongly in such a manner that, with rare exceptions, most of the coalition partners stick their loyalty to the respective alliances (Left Democratic Front or United Democratic Front).
LDF first came into power inKerala Legislative Assembly in 1980 under the leadership ofE. K. Nayanar who later became the longest servingChief minister of Kerala, ever since1980 election, the power has been clearly alternating between the two alliances till the2016. In 2016, LDF won the 2016 election and had a historic re-election in2021 election where an incumbent government was re-elected for first time in 40 years.Pinarayi Vijayan is the first chief minister of Kerala to be re-elected after completing a full term (five years) in office.[74]
Under the leadership ofNripen Chakraborty, the CPI(M) ledLeft Front won the1977 assembly elections.Nripen Chakraborty, became the firstChief minister of Tripura from CPI(M). In the next1983 assembly elections the incumbent government of Left Front was again re-elected and therefore it was in the government for 10 years.[75] In1988 assembly elections CPI(M) was out of power for 5 years despite being the largest party by seats won. In1993 assembly elections, theLeft Front won the elections andDasarath Deb sworn in as theChief minister of Tripura.
From 1993 to 2013, theLeft Front won 5 elections continuously. Since the1998 assembly elections,Manik Sarkar was theChief minister of Tripura for 20 years making him the longest serving at the position in Tripura. Under his leadership the Left Front has won1998,2003,2008 and2013. Currently, CPI(M) is the main opposition party in theTripura Legislative Assembly.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is the dominant party in the coalition.[75][76] The other four members of the Left Front are the Communist Party of India, theRevolutionary Socialist Party, theAll India Forward Bloc and theCommunist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation.[77]
In 2009, CPI(M) hosted11th International Communist Parties Meeting inNew Delhi. The summit was attended by 57 communist parties from 48 countries.[78]
_Leaders._Noormahal._27_Oct_1966.jpg)
_1.jpg)
The 24th Congress of the CPI(M) held between April 2nd and 6th, 2025 atMadurai,Tamil Nadu elected a 85 member Central Committee with one seat left vacant. There are also seven special invitees and fout permanent invitees to the Central Committee. The Central Committee at its meeting held on April 6th, 2025 at the conclusion of the Congress elected a 18 memberPolitburo. The Central Committee also elected Com.M. A. Baby as the General Secretary. The post of General Secretary was left vacant after the death ofSitaram Yechury on 12th September 2024. :[79]
Article XV, Section 15 of the party constitution says:
"No person can hold the position of the General Secretary for more than three full terms. Full term means the period between two Party Congresses. In a special situation, a person who has completed three full terms as General Secretary may be re-elected for a fourth term provided it is so decided by the Central Committee with a three-fourth majority. But in no case can that person be elected again for another term in addition to the fourth term."[80]
| S. No. | Term | Portrait | Name | State | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1964–1978 |  | Puchalapalli Sundarayya | Andhra Pradesh | [82][83] |
| After the split of the Communist Party of India in the 7th General meeting, a new political outfit was formed Communist Party of India (Marxist).Puchalapalli Sundarayya was elected as its General Secretary. | |||||
| 2 | 1978–1992 | | E. M. S. Namboodiripad | Kerala | [84][85] |
| The two timeChief Minister of Kerala,E. M. S. Namboodiripad was elected as the General Secretary in the 10th party Congress. | |||||
| 3 | 1992–2005 |  | Harkishan Singh Surjeet | Punjab | [86] |
| Harkishan Singh Surjeet came to head the CPI-M as its general secretary in 1992, an influential post he held until 2005 when failing health forced him into virtual retirement. | |||||
| 4 | 2005–2015 |  | Prakash Karat | Delhi | [87] |
| Prakash Karat was elected as the general secretary in the 18th party Congress. He was re-elected again to hold office until 2015. | |||||
| 5 | 2015–2024 |  | Sitaram Yechury | Andhra Pradesh | [88][89] |
| Sitaram Yechury was first elected as the party general secretary during the 21st party Congress at Visakhapatnam in April 2015. He was re-elected to the post at the 22nd party Congress at Hyderabad on 18 April 2018. Again re-elected for the third time at 23rd Party Congress held at Kannur, Kerala in April 2022 to hold the office until his death on 12 September 2024. Till date he is the only general secretary in the history of the party to die in office. | |||||
| Interim Co-ordinator | 2024-2025 | | Prakash Karat | Delhi | [90] |
| Prakash Karat was elected as the interim coordinator after Yechury's death until the new general secretary was elected. | |||||
| 6 | 2025– |  | M. A. Baby | Kerala | [91] |
| M. A. Baby was elected as the general secretary in the 24th party Congress held atMadurai in 2025 | |||||
| State | State Secretary |
|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | D. Ayyappan |
| Andhra Pradesh | V. Srinivasa Rao |
| Assam | Suprakash Talukdar |
| Bihar | Lalan Choudhary |
| Delhi | Anurag Saxena |
| Chhattisgarh | Bal Singh |
| Goa | Victor Savio Bragança |
| Gujarat | Hitendra Bhatt |
| Haryana | Prem Chand |
| Himachal Pradesh | Sanjay Chauhan[92][93] |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Mohammed Abass Rather |
| Jharkhand | Prakash Viplav |
| Karnataka | K. Prakash |
| Kerala | M. V. Govindan[94] |
| Madhya Pradesh | Jaswinder Singh |
| Maharashtra | Ajit Nawale |
| Manipur | Kshetrimayum Santa |
| Odisha | Suresh Chandra Panigrahy |
| Punjab | Sukhwinder Singh Sekhon |
| Puducherry | S. Ramachandran |
| Rajasthan | Kishan Pareek |
| Tamil Nadu | P. Shanmugam |
| Telangana | John Wesley |
| Tripura | Jitendra Chaudhury[95][96][97] |
| Uttarakhand | Rajendra Purohit |
| Uttar Pradesh | Ravi Shankar Mishra |
| West Bengal | Mohammed Salim |
.JPG)
.jpg)
Communist Party of India Marxist is internationally affiliated toIMCWP andUnity for Peace and Socialism.Its members in Great Britain are in the electoral frontUnity for Peace and Socialism, with theCommunist Party of Britain and the British-domiciled sections of theCommunist Party of Bangladesh and theCommunist Party of Greece (KKE). It stood 13 candidates in the London-wide list section of theLondon Assembly elections in May 2008.[98]
| Year | Legislature | Party Secretary | Total constituencies | Seats won / contested | Change in seats | Total votes | Per. of votes | Change in vote % | Party Rank | Outcome | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 4th Lok Sabha | Puchalapalli Sundarayya | 520 | 19 / 59 | New | 6,246,522 | 4.28 % | New | 6th | Opposition | [e 2] |
| 1971 | 5th Lok Sabha | 518 | 25 / 85 |  6 | 7,510,089 | 5.12 % | 0.84% | 2nd | Main Opposition | [e 3] | |
| 1977 | 6th Lok Sabha | 542 | 22 / 53 |  3 | 8,113,659 | 4.29 % | 0.83% | 3rd | Opposition | [e 4] | |
| 1980 | 7th Lok Sabha | E. M. S. Namboodiripad | 529(542*) | 37 / 64 | 15 | 12,352,331 | 6.24 % | 1.95% |  3rd | Opposition | [e 5] |
| 1984 | 8th Lok Sabha | 541 | 22 / 64 | 15 | 14,272,526 | 5.72 % | 0.52% | 3rd | Opposition | [e 6][e 7] | |
| 1989 | 9th Lok Sabha | 529 | 33 / 64 | 11 | 19,691,309 | 6.55 % | 0.83 | 4th | Outside Support | [e 8] | |
| 1991 | 10th Lok Sabha | 534 | 35 / 63 | 2 | 17,074,699 | 6.14 % | 0.41% | 4th | Opposition | [e 9][e 10] | |
| 1996 | 11th Lok Sabha | Harkishan Singh Surjeet | 543 | 32 / 75 | 3 | 20,496,810 | 6.12 % | 0.02% | 4th | Outside Support | [e 11] |
| 1998 | 12th Lok Sabha | 543 | 32 / 71 | | 18,991,867 | 5.16 % | 0.96% | 3rd | Opposition | [e 12] | |
| 1999 | 13th Lok Sabha | 543 | 33 / 72 | 1 | 19,695,767 | 5.40 % | 0.24% | 3rd | Opposition | [e 13] | |
| 2004 | 14th Lok Sabha | 543 | 43 / 69 | 10 | 22,070,614 | 5.66 % | 0.26% | 3rd | Outside Support | [e 14] | |
| 2009 | 15th Lok Sabha | Prakash Karat | 543 | 16 / 82 | 27 | 22,219,111 | 5.33 % | 0.33% | 8th | Opposition | [e 15] |
| 2014 | 16th Lok Sabha | 543 | 9 / 93 | 7 | 17,986,773 | 3.24 % | 2.09% | 9th | Opposition | [e 16] | |
| 2019 | 17th Lok Sabha | Sitaram Yechury | 543 | 3 / 69 | 6 | 10,744,908 | 1.75 % | 1.49% | 16th | Opposition | [e 17] |
| 2024 | 18th Lok Sabha | 543 | 4 / 52 | 1 | 11,342,553 | 1.76% | 0.01% | 14th | Opposition | [99] |
| All time-CPI(M) Lok Sabha seat count |
 |
In the 1967Lok Sabha elections, the CPI(M) nominated 59 candidates. In total 19 of them were elected. The party received 6.2 million votes (4.28% of the nationwide vote). By comparison, CPI won 23 seats and got 5.11% of the nationwide vote. In the state legislative elections held simultaneously, the CPI(M) emerged as a major party in Kerala and West Bengal. In Kerala, a United Front government led by E.M.S. Namboodiripad was formed.[k] In West Bengal, the CPI(M) was the main force behind theUnited Front government formed. The Chief Ministership was given toAjoy Mukherjee of theBangla Congress (a regional splinter group of the Indian National Congress).
With the backdrop of the Bangladesh War and the emerging role ofIndira Gandhi as a populist national leader, the 1971 election to the Lok Sabha was held. The CPI(M) contested 85 seats and won in 25. In total the party mustered 7510089 votes (5.12% of the national vote). 20 of the seats came from West Bengal (includingSomnath Chatterjee, elected from Burdwan), two from Kerala (including A.K. Gopalan, elected from Palakkad), two from Tripura (Biren Dutta andDasarath Deb) and one from Andhra Pradesh.[e 18]
In the same year, state legislative elections were held in three states; West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, andOdisha. In West Bengal CPI(M), had 241 candidates, winning 113 seats. In total the party mustered 4241557 votes (32.86% of the statewide vote). In Tamil Nadu CPI(M), contested 37 seats but won none of them, obtaining 259298 votes (1.65% of the statewide vote). In Odisha, the party contested 11 seats and won in two. The CPI(M) vote in the state was 52785 (1.2% of the statewide vote).[e 19]
In the 1977 Lok Sabha election, the CPI(M) fielded its candidates on 53 seats scattered around in 14 states and union territories of India. It won 4.29% of the average votes polled in this election. The party had won 17 seats from West Bengal, three from Maharashtra, and one each from Odisha and Punjab. This election was done shortly after the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi and reflected a wide uproar of masses against her draconian rule. A coalition of Opposition parties was formed against the Congress regime; CPI(M) too supported this coalition by not fielding its candidates against the Janta Party.[e 20]
The Janta Party coalition did not last long, and two years after its formation India faced the 1980 Lok Sabha election. This election saw an increase in the vote percentage of CPI(M) and the party secured more seats than the previous elections. The Party had contested elections in the 15 states and union territories of India and fielded its candidates on 64 seats. The party had won 37 seats in total. It won 28 seats in West Bengal, seven in Kerala, and two seats in Tripura. The party emerged out as the whole sole representative of the people of Tripura in this election.[e 21]
Nine CPI(M) candidates were elected in the2014 Indian general election, as well as two CPI(M)-supported independents.[101] This is further down from the previous number of 16. The national vote share of CPI(M) has also shrunk from 5.33% in 2009 to mere 3.28% in 2014. This is a significant 38.5% reduction within a span of five years which is consistent with the overall decline of the left in India.[102][103][104] CPI(M) did not win a single seat in Tamil Nadu and its seats went down from 9 to 2 in West Bengal where it is being heavily eroded byMamata Banerjee governedAITC. Kerala is the only state where CPI(M) gained one more seat but this is mainly attributed to the splitting of anti-LDF votes between the UDF and emerging NDA. The NDA saw a sharp spike in vote share in decades which came coupled with a sharp decline in UDF votes.[105] Thus, it is assumed that the NDA cut into UDF votes thereby facilitating victory for LDF. This was again mirrored during the 2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, which saw the NDA getting entry into the State Assembly for the first time as BJP veteranO. Rajagopal wins the Nemom seat and CPI(M)'sPinarayi Vijayan forming the LDF-ruled government.[106]
The CPI(M) contested on 69 seats nationwide and won three in the2019 general election. One seat was won in Kerala, where the CPI(M) is leading the state government. Two other seats were won in Tamil Nadu, where the CPI(M) contested within the DMK-led coalition.[107]
The CPI(M) contested on 52 seats nationwide and won four in the2024 general election. One seat was won in Kerala, One seat in Rajasthan and two more in Tamil Nadu under the-DMK led coalition.[108][109]
As of 2025[update], the CPI(M) heads the state government inKerala.Pinarayi Vijayan is Chief Minister of Kerala. InTamil Nadu it has 2 MLAs and in the Government withSPA coalition led byM. K. Stalin. The Left Front under CPI(M) governedWest Bengal for an uninterrupted 34 years (1977–2011) andTripura for 30 years, including 25 uninterrupted years between 1993 and 2018. The 34 years ofLeft Front rule in West Bengal is the longest-serving democratically elected communist-led government in the world.[110] CPI(M) currently has three MPs in Lok Sabha. CPI(M)'s highest tally was in 2004 when it got 5.66% of votes polled in and it had 43 MPs. It won 42.31% on an average in the 69 seats it contested. It supported the new Indian National Congress-ledUnited Progressive Alliance government, but without becoming a part of it. On 9 July 2008, it formally withdrew support from the UPA government explaining this by differences about the Indo-US nuclear deal and the IAEA Safeguards Agreement in particular.[111]
| Sr No. | State | Govt Since | Chief Minister | Alliance Name | Parties in Alliance | Seats in Assembly | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Party | Party seats | ||||||||
| CPI(M)-led Government | ||||||||||
| 1 | Kerala | 26 May 2016 | Pinarayi Vijayan | CPI(M) | 62 | Left Democratic Front | CPI (17) | 99 / 140 | ||
| KC(M) (5) | ||||||||||
| JD(S) (2) | ||||||||||
| NCP (2) | ||||||||||
| KC(B) (1) | ||||||||||
| INL (1) | ||||||||||
| LJD (1) | ||||||||||
| C(S) (1) | ||||||||||
| JKC (1) | ||||||||||
| IND (6) | ||||||||||
| Alliance Government | ||||||||||
| 2 | Tamil Nadu | 7 May 2021 | M. K. Stalin | DMK | 133 | Secular Progressive Alliance | INC(18) | 159 / 234 | ||
| VCK (4) | ||||||||||
| CPI (2) | ||||||||||
| CPI(M) (2) | ||||||||||
| 3 | Jammu and Kashmir | 1 October 2024 | Omar Abdullah | JKNC | 42 | INDIA | INC(6) | 49 / 95 | ||
| CPI(M) (1) | ||||||||||
| Seats won by CPI(M) instate legislative assemblies | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State legislative assembly | Last election | Contested seats | Seats won | Alliance | Result | Ref. | |
| Assam Legislative Assembly | 2021 | 2 | 1 / 126 | United Opposition Forum | Opposition | [e 22] | |
| Bihar Legislative Assembly | 2020 | 4 | 2 / 243 | Mahagathbandhan | Opposition | [112] | |
| Kerala Legislative Assembly | 2021 | 77 | 62 / 140 | Left Democratic Front | Government | [e 23] | |
| Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly | 2024 | 1 | 1 / 90 | INDIA | Coalition | ||
| Maharashtra Legislative Assembly | 2024 | 3 | 1 / 288 | Maha Vikas Aghadi | Opposition | [113] | |
| Odisha Legislative Assembly | 2024 | 7 | 1 / 147 | — | Others | [114] | |
| Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | 2021 | 6 | 2 / 234 | Secular Progressive Alliance | Government | [e 24] | |
| Tripura Legislative Assembly | 2023 | 43 | 11 / 60 | Left Front | Opposition | [e 25] | |
After formation of CPIM, CPIM came victorious in nine seats in1967, one seat in1972, eight seats in1978, five seats in1983, 11 seats in1985, in six seats in1989, 15 seats in1994, two seats in1999, nine seats in2004 and one seat in2009.In2014, CPIM won in one seat, which subsequently went toTelangana state. However, in 2019 CPIM won no seats. CPIM came victorious for many times in local body elections.[115] During the 1988 Lok Sabha election,Tammineni Veerabhadram, one of prominent politicians of CPIM, gathered 352,083 votes (39.01%), finishing in second place, becoming the most voted CPI(M) candidate up to then outside of the left strongholds like West Bengal and Kerala.[116]
CPIM had MPs in Andhra Pradesh rajyasabha multiple times includingM. Hanumantha Rao from 1988 to 1994,Yalamanchili Radhakrishna Murthy from 1996 to 2002 andPenumalli Madhu from 2004 to 2010.
CPIM has a moderate presence inAssam and had run Government in the state once.CPIM first time enteredAssam Legislative Assembly in1978 by winning 11 seats followed by two seats in1983, two seats in1985 and two seats in 1991. In the 1996 elections, CPIM won two seats with 1,76,721 votes.[117] and along withAsom Gana Parishad they were in coalition government headed byPrafulla Kumar Mahanta for 1996–2001.[118] But in 2001 elections, it drew blanks. In2006, the CPI (M) had won two seats. Ananta Deka, Uddhav Barman represented CPIM from Rangia and Sorbhog seats. In2011 and in2016, CPIM drew blanks.[118] In2021, CPIM made a comeback withMahajot winning one seat fromSorbhog by a margin of around 10,000 votes.[118] Sorbhog is considered as a left bastion in the state.
In lok sabha from Assam, CPIM first won in 1974 whenNurul Huda was elected in a by-election in Cachar lok sabha constituency in early 1974 by-elections. He defeated the Indian National Congress candidate and former Minister Mahitosh Purkayastha by a margin of 19,944 votes.[119] CPIM had also won one seat in 1980, one seat in 1991 and one seat in 1996.
CPIMBihar has its large roots in the peasant movements by undivided CPI in the state. Communists were actively involved in various movements from the 1920s.All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was founded in 1936, which predominantly became active in Bihar. By 1942, AIKS and communists dominated the peasant movement in the country. The members of AIKS orKisan Sabha were mostly communists. This created a political and social base for communists in Bihar.Sahajanand Saraswati,Karyanand Sharma,Bhogendra Jha were most notable leaders of the movement.[120] Afterwards Bakasht movement (1946–1952), Madhubani movement, Darbhanga movement mobilised Left politics in the state. Though after 1967, neither CPIM nor CPI(ML), which was formed in 1969, grew as an alternative to CPI until the 2000s.[121]
CPIM won four seats in1967, three seats in1969, 18 seats in1972, four seats in1977, seats in1980, one seat in1985, six seats in1990, two seats in1995, two seats in2000, one seat inFebruary 2005, and a seat inOctober 2005. The party drew blanks in2010 and2015; howeverm it did come back in2020 elections by winning two seats.[122][123] CPIM fought election in alliance withRastriya Janata Dal and fared well. It is also speculated that if more seats were given to the left parties, the election could be won with majority.[124]
CPIM had representatives in Lok Sabha from Bihar only for three times:1999,1991 and1989; each year, it won only one Lok Sabha seat. CPIM also has good presence in the panchayats.
CPIM supportedJD(U),RJD andINC to form coalition government in Bihar in August, 2022. However, it did not take part in the government.[125]
CPIM registered its first victory in polls in theChhattisgarh state in the 2019 municipal corporation elections, in which it bagged two wards. Surthi Kuldeep won Bairotil ward and Rajkumari won in Monkre ward.[126]
CPIM has a limited presence inGujarat. The party never won any Vidhan Sabha or Lok Sabha seat from Gujarat, though a bit number of panchayat seats are often won. But in 2020, CPIM's student wing SFI historically won the elections ofCentral University of Gujarat, which is considered as a right-wing bastion in India.[127]
CPIM has the presence inHimachal Pradesh in areas likeSummer Hill,[128]Shimla city,Theog etc. CPIM's student wingSFI has considerably presence in theHimachal Pradesh University.[129] CPIM had representatives in theHimachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1967 and 1993. In 1993,Rakesh Singha won from Shimla seat.[130] However, CPIM managed to win many seats in the municipal and panchayat elections.[129]
In 2012, Shimla Municipal Corporation election, CPI(M) won the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor inShimla Municipal Corporation with a huge majority with a total of 3 seats.[131]
In 2016, CPIM won 42 seats out of 331 seats contested and received only two district panchayats. In the2017 Shimla Municipal Corporation election, CPI(M) managed to win only one seat despite being a kingmaker in previous elections.
In2017, CPIM made a comeback inHimachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly after 24 years by winningTheog assembly seat. Rakesh Singha, a former CPIM Central Committee member won the seat by a margin of 1,983 seats.[128] CPIM contested for 14 seats in the election. After the election, the presence in state started to increase.[132]
In 2021, panchayat elections, CPIM increased its tally by jumping to 337 seats. 12 zila parishad (ZP) members, 25 panchayat samiti members, 28 panchayat pradhans, 30 vice-pradhans and 242 ward members got elected from CPIM. Also, CPIM candidates got elected for president in 25 panchayats and vice-president in 30 panchayats.[133][134]
CPIM has not won any seat inKarnataka since 2004. In2004, CPIM won 1 seat; in1994, it won 1 seat; in1985, it won two seats and in1983, it won two seats in theKarnataka Legislative Assembly.
Kerala has a strong presence of CPIM and left parties in its politics and society.[135] CPIM had the most of its electoral success from Kerala after 2011. After2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, it historically formed Government twice breaking the 40 year old political practice of the state. CPIM currently has 62 seats in the assembly.
_Flag.jpg)
In Kerala, the CPIM has pursued a policy of massive investment in poverty alleviation, including the distribution of procurement cards that provide almost free access to basic foodstuffs and the introduction of a minimum wage twice the national average, as well as in education and health. According to geographer Srikumar Chattopadhyay, "The communists also strongly developed thepanchayat system, the village councils that allow everyone to participate in the development of the state."[136]
CPIM has entered inMadhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly twice. In1993 and2003 CPIM wonSirmour Assembly constituency.[137]
Currently the party has one representative inMaharashtra Legislative Assembly. CPI(M) candidate Comrade Vinod Nikole, an Adivasi leader and CPI(M) Maharashtra State Committee member won theDahanu by a margin of 4,742 votes. As of 2020, he is also the State Secretary and Thane-Palghar District Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). Notably, the seat was won by CPIM simultaneously from 1978 with just a single exception of 2014.[138]
CPIM never won a single seat in Manipur since the party participated in1995 Legislative Assembly election for the first time in the state. Currently, CPIM is a part ofManipur Progressive Secular Alliance, an alliance led by Indian National Congress.[139]
Presently, CPIM has only one representative inOdisha Legislative Assembly fromBonai.[140]
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Punjab has an eventful history, connected with the state's socio-political landscape and its struggle for workers' rights, agrarian reforms, and social justice.[141] The roots of the CPI(M) in Punjab can be traced back to the early 20th century with the emergence of various revolutionary movements. Two significant organizations that played a crucial role in shaping the communist movement in Punjab were the Gaddar Party, formed in 1913, and the Lal Communist Party, established in 1928. While the Gaddar Party aimed at seeking India's independence from British colonial rule through armed resistance, the Lal Communist Party focused on empowering peasants and labourers through revolutionary means.
After India gained independence in 1947, the Communist Party of India (CPI) was formed through the amalgamation of various leftist groups, including the Lal Communist Party. However, ideological differences within the CPI led to a split, resulting in the formation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) in 1964. The CPI(M) in Punjab has consistently advocated for land reforms, workers' rights, and social equality. It has garnered support among the rural and urban poor, particularly in areas with a strong agrarian base. The party actively participated in various social and political movements, aiming to uplift the marginalized sections of society and improve their living conditions.[142]
During the 1980s, Punjab faced a crisis with the rise of the Khalistan movement, seeking a separate Sikh state. The Khalistan movement posed a significant challenge to not only the Indian state but also to Punjab. During this period, the CPI(M) opposed the Khalistan movement and stood for a united India. In the late 1990s, the CPI(M) faced internal divisions, leading to a significant split. One prominent faction led by Mangat Ram Pasla formed a new party called the Communist Party of Marxist (CPM) in Punjab, pursuing its own ideological path. This internal rift had an impact on the party's organizational structure and electoral presence.[143]
Over the years, the CPI(M) experienced a waning presence on the electoral front in Punjab.[144] The changing political dynamics, rise of regional parties, and the diminishing appeal of communist ideology in a globalized world contributed to its reduced influence in electoral politics. Despite the challenges, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Punjab continues to be active in advocating for workers' and peasants' rights and participating in social and political movements. Its history reflects the complexities of Punjab's political landscape and its contribution to the larger communist movement in India.
In the 2008 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election, CPIM secured three seats from Anupgarh, Dhod and Danta Ramgarh.[145] Along with six other parties, CPIM formedLoktantrik Morcha in 2013. However, CPIM could not win any seats in the2013 Legislative Assembly election. The party made a comeback in the state by winning two seats out 28 seats they contested in the 2018 Legislative Assembly election.[146]
.JPG)
CPIM, as a part ofDravida Munnetra Kazhagam front in1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, won 15 seats.[147] In2006, CPIM was the part of the alliance led by DMK. The party contested in 13 seats and won 9 seats. In thenext election, CPIM joinedAll India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam coalition and won 10 seats out of the 12 seats they contested. But the party was unable to secure any seat in2016.[148] In2019 Indian general election, CPIM won two seats fromCoimbatore andMadurai in Tamil Nadu.[149] In2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, CPIM made a comeback by winning two seats. In 2022, CPI(M) won many seats in the municipal corporation elections. T. Nagarajan of CPI(M) got the post of Deputy Mayor inMadurai Municipal Corporation.[150]
In 2014, CPIM won in one seat in Andhra Pradesh, which subsequently went to Telangana state. However, in 2018 CPIM won no seats. In 2022Munugode by-election, CPIM supported the candidate fielded byBharat Rashtra Samithi. In2023, CPIM will contest the election in alliance withBRS.[151]
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2024 | 43,012 | 0.13% | 175 | 0 / 8 | — | 0.19% | — |
| 2019 | 1,01,071 | 0.32% | 175 | 0 / 7 | 1 | | — |
| 2014 | 4,07,376 | 0.84% | 175 | 1 / 68 | | 0.59 | — |
| 2009 | 6,03,407 | 1.43% | 294 | 1 / 18 | 8 | 0.49 | — |
| 2004 | 6,56,721 | 1.84% | 294 | 9 / 14 | 7 | 0.14 | — |
| 1999 | 5,67,761 | 1.70% | 294 | 2 / 48 | 14 | 1.26 | — |
| 1994 | 9,23,204 | 2.96% | 294 | 15 / 16 | 9 | 0.50 | — |
| 1989 | 7,07,686 | 2.96% | 294 | 6 / 15 | 5 | 0.15 | — |
| 1985 | 5,30,349 | 2.69% | 294 | 11 / 11 | 6 | 0.20 | — |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assam Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2021 | 160,758 | 0.84% | 126 | 1 / 2 | 1 | 0.29 | Opposition |
| 2016 | 93,506 | 0.55% | 126 | 0 / 19 | | | — |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bihar Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2025 | 243 | 0 / 4 | |||||
| 2020 | 274,155 | 0.65% | 243 | 2 / 4 | 2 | 0.04% | Opposition |
| 2015 | 232,149 | 0.61% | 243 | 0 / 43 | | 0.21 | — |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gujarat Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2022 | 10,647 | 0.03% | 182 | 0 / 9 | | 0.01% | — |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haryana Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2024 | 34,373 | 0.25% | 90 | 0 / 1 | — | 0.18% | — |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2022 | 27,812 | 0.66% | 68 | 0 / 11 | 1 | 0.81% | |
| 2017 | 55,558 | 1.5% | 68 | 1 / 14 | 1 | 0.1% | — |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2024 | 33,634 | 0.6% | 90 | 1 / 1 | - | 0.1% | Coalition |
| 2014 | 24,017 | 0.5% | 87 | 1 / 3 | — | 0.3% | Opposition |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerala Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2021 | 5,288,502 | 25.38% | 140 | 62 / 77 | 4 | 1.14% | Government |
| 2016 | 5,365,472 | 26.7% | 140 | 59 / 84 | 14 | 1.48 | Government |
| 2011 | 4,921,354 | 28.18% | 140 | 45 / 84 | 16 | 2.27 | Opposition |
| 2006 | 4,732,381 | 30.45% | 140 | 61 / 84 | 37 | 6.60 | Government |
| 2001 | 3,752,976 | 23.85% | 140 | 24 / 74 | 16 | 2.26 | Opposition |
| 1996 | 3,078,723 | 21.59% | 140 | 40 / 62 | 12 | 0.15 | Government |
| 1991 | 3,082,354 | 21.74% | 140 | 28 / 64 | 10 | 2.12 | Opposition |
| 1987 | 2,912,999 | 22.86% | 140 | 38 / 70 | 12 | 4.06 | Government |
| 1982 | 1,798,198 | 18.80% | 140 | 26 / 51 | 9 | 0.55 | Opposition |
| 1980 | 1,846,312 | 19.35% | 140 | 35 / 50 | 18 | 2.83 | Government |
| 1977 | 1,946,051 | 22.18% | 140 | 17 / 68 | 12 | 1.65 | Opposition |
| 1970 | 1,794,213 | 23.83% | 140 | 29 / 73 | 23 | 0.32 | Opposition |
| 1967 | 1,476,456 | 23.51% | 140 | 52 / 59 | 12 | 3.64 | Government |
| 1965 | 1,257,869 | 19.87% | 140 | 40 / 73 | New | New | — |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2024 | 222,277 | 0.3% | 288 | 1 / 3 | | | Opposition |
| 2019 | 204,933 | 0.37% | 288 | 1 / 8 | | 0.02% | Opposition |
| 2014 | 207,933 | 0.39% | 288 | 1 / 20 | | 0.21% | — |
| 2009 | 270,052 | 0.60% | 288 | 1 / 20 | 2 | 0.02% | — |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odisha Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2024 | 93,295 | 0.37% | 147 | 1 / 7 | — | 0.07% | — |
| 2019 | 70,119 | 0.32% | 147 | 1 / 8 | | — | — |
| 2014 | 80,274 | 0.40% | 147 | 1 / 8 | | — | — |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2022 | 9,503 | 0.06% | 117 | 0 / 14 | — | — | — |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2023 | 382,387 | 0.96% | 200 | 0 / 17 | 2 | 0.24 | — |
| 2018 | 434,210 | 1.2% | 200 | 2 / 28 | 2 | 0.33 | — |
| 2013 | 629,002 | 0.9% | 200 | 0 / 38 | 3 | 0.7 | — |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2021 | 3,90,819 | 0.85% | 234 | 2 / 6 | 2 | 0.13 | Government |
| 2016 | 3,07,303 | 0.72% | 234 | 0 / 25 | 10 | 1.58 | — |
| 2011 | 8,88,364 | 2.40% | 234 | 10 / 12 | 1 | 0.3 | Government |
| 2006 | 8,72,674 | 2.70% | 234 | 9 / 13 | 10 | 0.33 | Government |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telangana Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2023 | 52,364 | 0.22% | 119 | 0 / 19 | 2 | 0.18% | — |
| 2018 | 91,099 | 0.40% | 119 | 2 / 28 | 1 | — | — |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tripura Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2023 | 6,22,829 | 24.62% | 60 | 11 / 43 | 5 | 17.6 | Opposition |
| 2018 | 9,93,605 | 42.22% | 60 | 16 / 57 | 33 | 5.51 | Opposition |
| 2013 | 10,59,327 | 48.11% | 60 | 49 / 57 | 3 | 0.01 | Government |
| 2008 | 9,03,009 | 48.01% | 60 | 46 / 56 | 8 | 1.10 | Government |
| 2003 | 7,11,119 | 46.82% | 60 | 38 / 55 | | 1.30 | Government |
| 1998 | 6,21,804 | 45.49% | 60 | 38 / 55 | 6 | 0.80 | Government |
| 1993 | 5,99,943 | 44.78% | 60 | 44 / 51 | 18 | 0.40 | Government |
| 1988 | 5,20,697 | 45.82% | 60 | 26 / 55 | 11 | 0.10 | Opposition |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2022 | 5617 | 0.01% | 403 | 0 / 1 | — | 0.03 | — |
| Election Year | Overall votes | % of overall votes | Total seats | seats won/ seats contensted | +/- in seats | +/- in vote share | Sitting side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Bengal Legislative Assembly | |||||||
| 2021 | 2,837,276 | 4.73% | 294 | 0 / 136 | 26 | 15.02 | — |
| 2016 | 10,802,058 | 19.75% | 294 | 26 / 148 | 14 | 10.35 | Opposition |
| 2011 | 14,330,061 | 30.08% | 294 | 40 / 213 | 136 | 7.05 | Opposition |
| 2006 | 14,652,200 | 37.13% | 294 | 176 / 212 | 33 | 0.54 | Government |
| 2001 | 13,402,603 | 36.59% | 294 | 143 / 211 | 14 | 1.33 | Government |
| 1996 | 13,670,198 | 37.16% | 294 | 153 / 213 | 32 | 1.05 | Government |
| 1991 | 11,418,822 | 36.87% | 294 | 182 / 204 | 2 | 2.43 | Government |
| 1987 | 10,285,723 | 39.12% | 294 | 187 / 212 | 13 | 0.89 | Government |
| 1982 | 8,655,371 | 38.49% | 294 | 174 / 209 | 4 | 3.03 | Government |
| 1977 | 5,080,828 | 35.46% | 294 | 178 / 224 | 164 | 8.01 | Government |
In the 2002 Presidential election, Left Front announced CaptainLakshmi Sehgal as its presidential candidate. Against her was the rulingBharatiya Janata Party's candidateA. P. J. Abdul Kalam.[152] CPI(M)'s leadership announced that in form of Captain Lakshmi, they were fielding an 'Alternative Candidate'. They said that though it was clear that Captain Lakshmi could not become president because of the opposition of the BJP-ledNational Democratic Alliance (NDA) and theIndian National Congress to her, yet through this Presidential Election, the Left wished to raise key national issues and make them heard by the masses.[153] Captain Lakshmi herself pointed out that this Presidential election reflected the opposition of the Indian Left to the communal-sectarian politics of BJP, and the Left's solidarity with the religious minorities who had suffered greatly under the NDA's leadership.[154]
While CPI(M) supportedPranab Mukherjee as presidential candidate in2012 presidential election, it was in favour of a non-Congress candidate for the post of theVice-President.[155]
| † | Denotes the person is the incumbent chief minister |
| No. | Name | Portrait | Term of office | Days in office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerala | |||||
| 1 | E. M. S. Namboodiripad | | 6 March 1967 | 1 November 1969 | 2 years 240 days |
| 2 | E. K. Nayanar |  | 25 January 1980 | 20 October 1981 | 10 years 353 days |
| 26 March 1987 | 23 June 1991 | ||||
| 20 May 1996 | 16 May 2001 | ||||
| 3 | V. S. Achuthanandan |  | 18 May 2006 | 17 May 2011 | 4 years 364 days |
| 4 | Pinarayi Vijayan |  | 25 May 2016 | 20 May 2021 | 9 years, 154 days |
| 20 May 2021 | Incumbent | ||||
| Tripura | |||||
| 1 | Nripen Chakraborty |  | 5 January 1978 | 4 February 1983 | 10 years 31 days |
| 5 February 1983 | 5 February 1988 | ||||
| 2 | Dasarath Deb |  | 10 April 1993 | 11 March 1998 | 4 years, 335 days |
| 3 | Manik Sarkar | | 11 March 1998 | 26 February 2003 | 19 years 363 days |
| 27 February 2003 | 23 February 2008 | ||||
| 24 February 2008 | 14 February 2013 | ||||
| 15 February 2013 | 8 March 2018 | ||||
| West Bengal | |||||
| 1 | Jyoti Basu | | 21 June 1977 | 23 May 1982 | 23 years 137 days |
| 24 May 1982 | 29 March 1987 | ||||
| 30 March 1987 | 18 June 1991 | ||||
| 19 June 1991 | 15 May 1996 | ||||
| 16 May 1996 | 5 November 2000 | ||||
| 2 | Buddhadeb Bhattacharya |  | 6 November 2000 | 14 May 2001 | 10 years 188 days |
| 15 May 2001 | 17 May 2006 | ||||
| 18 May 2006 | 13 May 2011 | ||||
| CurrentRajya Sabha members from CPI(M) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | State | Appointment date | Retirement date |
| John Brittas | Kerala | 4 April 2021 | 23 April 2027 |
| V. Sivadasan | Kerala | 24 April 2021 | 23 April 2027 |
| A. A. Rahim | Kerala | 3 April 2022 | 2 April 2028 |
| Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya | West Bengal | 3 April 2020 | 2 April 2026 |
| CurrentLok Sabha (18th) members from CPI(M) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Constituency | State |
| K. Radhakrishnan | Alathur | Kerala |
| R. Sachithanantham | Dindigul | Tamil Nadu |
| S. Venkatesan | Madurai | Tamil Nadu |
| Amra Ram | Sikar | Rajasthan |
A large number of parties have been formed as a result of splits from the CPI(M), such as
The establishment of a people's democratic government, the successful carrying out of these tasks and the leadership of the working class in the people's democratic State will ensure that the Indian revolution will not stop at the democratic stage but will pass over to the stage of effecting socialist transformation by developing the productive forces.
_election_symbol_-_Hammer_Sickle_and_Star.svg)
.jpg)
%2c_calling_on_the_Union_Home_Minister%2c_Shri_Rajnath_Singh%2c_in_New_Delhi_on_Thursday%2c_November_24%2c_2016_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
_Logo.svg){kind=logo}