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The '''Communist Party of India (Marxist)''' is a Communist party in India. The party emerged from a split from the [[Communist Party of India]] in 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cpim.org/|title=Communist Party of India (Marxist)|website=Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}</ref> The CPI(M) was formed at the Seventh Congress of the Communist Party of India held in Calcutta from 31 October to 7 November 1964. The power of CPI(M) is concentrated in the states of [[Kerala]], [[West Bengal]] and [[Tripura]]. At present in 2016, CPI(M) is leading the state governments in Tripura and Kerala. It also leads the Left Front in West Bengal.
{{short description| Political party in India}}
{{other uses|Communist Party of India (disambiguation)}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2020}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox Indian political party
|party_name        = Communist Party of India (Marxist)
|abbreviation      = CPI(M), CPIM, CPM
|party_logo        = [[File:Cpm election symbol.svg|150px]]
|flag              = [[File:CPI-M-flag.svg|200px]]
|colorcode          = {{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
|general_secretary  = [[Sitaram Yechury]]
|presidium          = [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Politburo]]
|loksabha_leader    = [[P. R. Natarajan]]
|rajyasabha_leader  = [[Elamaram Kareem]]
|foundation          = {{start date and age|df=yes|p=y|1964|11|07}}
|founder            =*[[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]]
*[[A. K. Gopalan]]
*[[B. T. Ranadive]]
*[[Harkishan Singh Surjeet]]
*[[Makineni Basavapunnaiah]]
*[[Hare Krishna Konar]]
*[[P. Ramamurthi]]
*[[Promode Dasgupta]]
*[[Jyoti Basu]]
|split             = [[Communist Party of India]]
|headquarters      = A. K. Gopalan Bhawan, 27-29, Bhai Vir Singh Marg, [[New Delhi]]-110 001, [[India]]
|eci                = [[List of political parties in India#National parties|National Party]]<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18 January 2013 |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/category/267-recognized-regional-parties/ |publisher=Election Commission of India |access-date=9 May 2013 |location=India |year=2013}}</ref>
|alliance          = {{bulleted list|
[[Secular Progressive Alliance]] {{small|([[Tamil Nadu]])}}|[[Left Front (Tripura)|Left Front]] {{small|([[Tripura]])}}|[[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] {{small|([[West Bengal]])}}|[[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|Left Democratic Front]] {{small|([[Kerala]])}}|[[2021 Assam Legislative Assembly election#Mahajot|Mahajot]] {{small|([[Assam]])}}|[[Mahagathbandhan (Bihar)|Mahagathbandhan]] {{small|([[Bihar]])}}}}
|loksabha_seats    = {{Composition bar|3|543|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|rajyasabha_seats  = {{Composition bar|6|245|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|state_seats_name  = [[State legislative assemblies of India|State legislative assemblies]]
|state_seats        = {{Composition bar|88|4036|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|(Total)}} {{hidden
  |State Legislative assemblies
  |style=text-align:center; |
{{Composition bar|1|126|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Assam Legislative Assembly|Assam]])}}
{{Composition bar|2|243|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Bihar Legislative Assembly|Bihar]])}}
{{Composition bar|1|68|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Himachal Pradesh]])}}
{{Composition bar|62|140|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}{{small|([[Kerala Legislative Assembly|Kerala]])}}
{{Composition bar|1|288|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Maharashtra]])}}
{{Composition bar|1|147|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Odisha Legislative Assembly|Odisha]])}}
{{Composition bar|2|200|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly|Rajasthan]])}}
{{Composition bar|2|234|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Tamil Nadu]])}}
{{Composition bar|16|60|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}} {{small|([[Tripura Legislative Assembly|Tripura]])}}
}}
|no_states          = {{Composition bar|2|31|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|ideology          = <!-- IMPORTANT: Do not change party ideology or position without bringing reliable sources to the Talk page and garnering consensus. -->[[Communism]]<ref name="OUP_Ideology" />
|position          = [[Left-wing politics|Left-wing]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/05/31/indias-election-results-were-more-than-modi-wave/ |title=India's election results were more than a 'Modi wave' |work=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=31 May 2019}}
<br />—{{cite web |last=Withnall |first=Adam |date=2 January 2019 |title=Protesters form 620km 'women's wall' in India as female devotees pray at Hindu temple for first time |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/womens-wall-protest-india-kerala-temple-hindu-pray-supreme-court-sexism-a8708381.html |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}
<br />—{{cite web |url=https://thewire.in/rights/manipur-arrests-cpi-secretary-caa-protests |title=Manipur: CPI State Secretary, Blogger Arrested over CAA Protests |work=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]] |access-date=24 December 2019}}
<br />—{{cite web |last=Choudhury |first=Shubhadeep |date=4 May 2020 |title=West Bengal has the highest mortality rate of COVID-19 patients: IMCT |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/west-bengal-has-the-highest-mortality-rate-of-covid-19-patients-imct-80301 |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |language=en}}
<br />—{{cite journal |last=Nandi |first=Proshanta |date=2005 |title=Communism through the Ballot Box: Over a Quarter Century of Uninterrupted Rule in West Bengal |journal=Sociological Bulletin |volume=54 |issue=2 |pages=171–194 |doi=10.1177/0038022920050202 |jstor=23620496 |s2cid=157014751 |issn=0038-0229}}
<br />—{{cite journal |last=Fernandes |first=Leela |date=1996 |title=Review of Development Policy of a Communist Government: West Bengal since 1977, ; Indian Communism: Opposition, Collaboration and Institutionalization, Ross Mallick |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=55 |issue=4 |pages=1041–1043 |doi=10.2307/2646581 |jstor=2646581 |issn=0021-9118}}
<br />—{{cite journal |last=Moodie |first=Deonnie |date=August 2019 |title=On Blood, Power and Public Interest: The Concealment of Hindu Sacrificial rites under Indian Law |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-law-and-religion/article/on-blood-power-and-public-interest-the-concealment-of-hindu-sacrificial-rites-under-indian-law/339C7920CEB8F426D575635EDC6ACE9B |journal=Journal of Law and Religion |language=en |volume=34 |issue=2 |pages=165–182 |doi=10.1017/jlr.2019.24 |s2cid=202333308 |issn=0748-0814}}</ref>
|publication        = ''[[People's Democracy (journal)|People's Democracy]]'' <br /> ''[[Ganashakti]]'' <br />''[[Deshabhimani]]'' <br /> ''[[Theekkathir]]''
|youth              = [[Democratic Youth Federation of India]]
|students          = [[Students' Federation of India]]
|labour            = [[Centre of Indian Trade Unions]]
|women              = [[All India Democratic Women's Association]]
|peasants          = [[All India Kisan Sabha (Ashoka Road)|All India Kisan Sabha]]
|website            = {{URL|http://cpim.org/}}
|international      = [[International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties|IMCWP]]
|wing4_title        = Tribal wing
|wing4              = [[Ganamukti Parishad]]
|membership        = {{increase}} 1 million (2018)<ref>{{cite news |title=Introduction of CPI(M) |url=https://cpim.org/page/about-us |language=en}}</ref>
|colours            = {{color box|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}|border=darkgray}} Red
|electoral_symbol  = [[File:Indian Election Symbol Hammer Sickle and Star.png|100px]]
}}
The '''Communist Party of India (Marxist)'''  (abbreviated as '''CPI(M)'''/'''CPIM'''/'''CPM''') is a [[communist]] [[List of political parties in India|political party]] in [[India]].<ref name="OUP_Ideology">{{cite book |last1=Chakrabarty |first1=Bidyut |date=2014 |title=Communism in India: Events, Processes and Ideologies |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |page=314 |isbn=978-0-19-997489-4}}</ref> It is one of the [[List of political parties in India#National parties|national parties]] of India.<ref name=":0" /> The party emerged from a split from the [[Communist Party of India]] (CPI) on 7 November, 1964.


==History==
{{As of|2021|post=,}} CPI(M) is leading the state government in [[Kerala]] and has representation in the following Legislative assemblies in the states of [[Tripura]], [[Assam]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Bihar]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Odisha]], [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/rajasthan-election |title=RAJASTHAN ELECTION RESULTS 2018 |access-date=12 December 2018 |date=28 November 2014}}</ref>
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) emerged from a division within the Communist Party of India (CPI), which was formed on 26 December 1925. The CPI had experienced a period of upsurge during the years following the Second World War. The CPI led armed rebellions in [[Telangana]], Tripura, and [[Kerala]]. However, it soon abandoned the strategy of armed revolution in favor of working within the parliamentary 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.<ref>https://sites.google.com/a/communistparty.in/cpi/brief-history-of-cpi</ref>


Under the government of the Indian National Congress party of Jawaharlal Nehru, independent India developed close relations and a strategic partnership with the Soviet 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 that class struggle could not be put on the back-burner for the sake of guarding the interests of Soviet trade and foreign policy.[citation needed] Moreover, the Indian National Congress appeared to be generally hostile towards political competition. In 1959 the central government intervened to impose President's Rule in Kerala, toppling the E.M.S. Namboodiripad cabinet (the sole non-Congress state government in the country).<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cia-papers-trace-split-of-indian-communists/articleshow/2162923.cms</ref>
The All-India Party Congress is the supreme authority of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).<ref name="cpim-const">{{cite web |url=https://cpim.org/party-constitution |title=Party Constitution {{!}} Communist Party of India (Marxist) |date=18 March 2009 |access-date=17 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317152952/https://cpim.org/party-constitution |archive-date=17 March 2020}}</ref> However, in between two party congresses, the Central Committee is the highest decision making body.<ref name="cpim-const" /> The Central Committee shall elect from among its members a [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Polit Bureau]] including the General Secretary.<ref name="cpim-const" /> 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.<ref name="cpim-const" />


==Party organisation==
== Name ==
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-led United 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.<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/latest-news/</ref>
CPI(M) is officially known as {{lang|hi|भारत की कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी मार्क्सवादी}} ({{transl|hi|Bharat ki Kamyunist Party Marksvadi}}) in Hindi, but it is often known as {{lang|hi|मार्क्सवादी कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी}} ({{transl|hi|Marksvadi Kamyunist Party}}, abbreviated ''MaKaPa'') 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 as a 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)' and applied to obtain its election symbol from the [[Election Commission of India]].<ref>{{harvnb|Basu|1999|p=189}}.</ref>


==References==
== Background ==
{{reflist}}
{{main|Communist Party of India}}
[[File:Telangana Armed Struggle guerrillas.jpg|thumb|Guerrillas of the [[Telangana Rebellion|Telangana armed struggle]] (1946–1951)]]
[[File:A Communist Party camp in Karol Bagh, Delhi, 1952.jpg|thumb|CPI election campaign in [[Karol Bagh]], [[Delhi]], for the [[1952 Indian general election]].]]
[[File:Swearing in of CPI cabinet in Kerala, April 1957.jpg|thumb|Swearing in ceremony of the [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]] as first [[Chief Minister of Kerala]], April 1957]]
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) emerged from a division within the Communist Party of India, which was formed on 26 December 1925.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/a/communistparty.in/cpi/brief-history-of-cpi |title=Brief History of CPI |access-date=1 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209001241/https://sites.google.com/a/communistparty.in/cpi/brief-history-of-cpi |archive-date=9 December 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The CPI had experienced a period of upsurge during the years following the [[Second World War]]. The CPI led armed rebellions in [[Telangana Rebellion|Telangana]], [[Tripura (princely state)|Tripura]], and Kerala. However, it soon abandoned the strategy of armed revolution in favor of working within the [[parliamentary]] 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. {{citation needed|date=June 2021}}


{{politics-stub}}
Under the government of the [[Indian National Congress]] party of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], independent India developed close relations and a strategic partnership with the [[Soviet 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 that [[class struggle]] could not be put on the back-burner for the sake of guarding the interests of Soviet trade and foreign policy.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} Moreover, the Indian National Congress appeared to be generally hostile towards political competition. In 1959 the central government intervened to impose [[President's Rule]] in Kerala, toppling the [[E.M.S. Namboodiripad]] cabinet (the sole non-Congress state government in the country).<ref>{{cite web |title=E.M.S. Namboodiripad {{!}} Indian politician |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/E-M-S-Namboodiripad |access-date=4 June 2021 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}}</ref>


[[Category:Communist parties]]
== History ==
[[Category:1964 establishments in Asia]]
=== Formation of CPI(M) (1964) ===
[[Category:1960s establishments in India]]
{{main|1964 split in the Communist Party of India}}
[[Category:Political parties in India]]
{{further|Sino-Soviet split}}
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 program. This difference in opinion was also a reflection of a similar difference of international level on ideology between the Soviet and Chinese Communist parties. The alleged 'right-wing' inside the party followed the Soviet path<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cia-papers-trace-split-of-indian-communists/articleshow/2162923.cms |title=CIA papers trace split of Indian Communists |website=The Times of India |language=en-IN}}</ref> whereas the 'left-wing' wanted to follow the Chinese principle of a [[Mass line|mass party with a class line]] with national characteristics. Moreover, the faction of CPI which later became CPI(M) referred to the "right" strategy as a national approach of class collaboration, a damning charge within the communist movement where the prioritization of working-class interests and independence is considered paramount.<ref name="auto1" /><ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://lnews.in/bcccf8 |title=ഇന്ത്യ - ചൈന സംഘർഷം : 1962 ൻ്റെ പാഠങ്ങൾ |website=www.leftclicknews.com/}}</ref>
It was this ideological difference which later intensified, coupled with the Soviet-Chinese split at the international level and ultimately gave birth to CPI(M).<ref name="kozhikkodepartycongress">{{cite web |url=http://www.kozhikodepartycongress.org/kerala-cpim-history.php |title=Communist Party in Kerala |publisher=CPI(M) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314030901/http://www.kozhikodepartycongress.org/kerala-cpim-history.php |archive-date=14 March 2012}}</ref>
 
Hundreds of CPI leaders, accused of being pro-Chinese, were imprisoned. Thousands of Communists were detained without trial.{{efn|The bulk of the detainees came from the left-wing of the CPI. However, [[Professional revolutionaries|cadres]] of the [[Socialist Unity Centre of India]] and the [[Workers Party of India]] were also targeted.<ref>[http://www.ganashakti.com/archive/left_unity.htm] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017160748/http://www.ganashakti.com/archive/left_unity.htm |date=17 October 2007 }}</ref>}}<ref name="auto1" />
 
In 1962 [[Ajoy Ghosh]], the general secretary of the CPI died. After his death, [[S.A. 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.{{efn|The 32 were [[P. Sundarayya]], [[M. Basavapunniah]], [[T. Nagi Reddy]], [[Moturu Hanumantha Rao|M. Hanumantha Rao]], [[D.V. Rao]], N. Prasad Rao, G. Bapanayya, [[E.M.S. Namboodiripad]], [[A.K. Gopalan]], A.V. Kunhambu, C.H. Kanaran, [[E.K. Nayanar]], [[V.S. Achuthanandan]], E.K. Imbichibava, Promode Das Gupta, Muzaffar Ahmad, [[Jyoti Basu]], [[Abdul Halim]], [[Hare Krishna Konar]], [[Saroj Mukherjee]], [[P. Ramamurthi]], M.R. Venkataraman, [[N. Sankariah]], [[K. Ramani]], [[Harkishan Singh Surjeet]], [[Jagjit Singh Lyallpuri]], D.S. Tapiala, Bhag Singh, [[Sheo Kumar Mishra]], R.N. Upadhyaya, Mohan Punamiya, and [[R.P. Saraf]].<ref>{{harvnb|Bose|2005|p=37}}.</ref>}}
 
The leftist section, to which the 32 National Council members belonged, organized a convention in [[Tenali]], 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 in [[Calcutta]] later the same year.<ref name="basu51">{{harvnb|Basu|2000|p=51}}.</ref>
 
Marking a difference from the official sector of CPI, the Tenali convention was marked by the display of a large portrait of the Chinese Communist leader [[Mao Zedong]].<ref name="basu51" />
 
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 program proposal of their own. These radicals criticized the draft program proposal prepared by [[M. Basavapunniah]] for undermining [[class struggle]] and failing to take a clear pro-Chinese position in the ideological conflict between the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] (CPSU) and the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP).{{efn|Suniti Kumar Ghosh was a member of the group that presented this alternative draft proposal. His grouping was one of several left tendencies in the Bengali party branch.<ref>{{harvnb|Basu|2000|p=32}}.</ref>}}
 
After the Tenali convention, the CPI left-wing organized party district and state conferences. In [[West 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 program 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 by [[Aziz 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 program proposal.<ref name="pb1" />
 
At the Siliguri Party District Conference, the main draft proposal for a party program was accepted, but with some additional points suggested by the far-left North Bengal cadre [[Charu Majumdar]]. However, [[Harekrishna Konar]] (representing the leadership of the CPI left-wing) forbade the raising of the slogan ''Mao Tse-Tung Zindabad'' (Long live Mao Tse-Tung) at the conference.<ref name="pb1" />
 
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.<ref name="pb1">{{harvnb|Basu|2000|pp=52–54}}.</ref>
 
The Calcutta Congress was held between 31 October and 7 November, at Tyagraja Hall in southern [[Calcutta]]. Simultaneously, the CPI convened a Party Congress in [[Bombay]]. {{citation needed|date=August 2020}} 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 program. [[P. Sundarayya]] was elected general secretary of the party.<ref name="auto1" /><ref name="auto" />
 
In total 422 delegates took part in the Calcutta Congress. CPI(M) claimed that they represented 104,421 CPI members, 60% of the total party membership.<ref>{{cite book |title=Peking Review |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i6StOodgop4C |year=1965 |publisher=Peking review |page=17}}</ref>
 
At the Calcutta conference, the party adopted a class analysis of the character of the Indian state, that claimed the Indian [[bourgeoisie]] was increasingly collaborating with [[imperialism]].<ref name="autogenerated2">{{harvnb|Basu|2000|p=54}}.</ref>
 
Parimal Das Gupta's alternative draft program was not circulated at the Calcutta conference. However, [[Souren Basu]], a delegate from the far-left stronghold [[Darjeeling]], 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.<ref name="autogenerated2" />
 
=== Early years of CPI(M) (1964–1966) ===
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.<ref name="rao17" /> In 1965 new waves of arrests of CPI(M) cadres took place in [[West Bengal]], as the party launched agitations against the rise in fares in the [[Calcutta Tramways]] and against the then-prevailing food crisis. Statewide general strikes and [[hartal]]s were observed on 5 August 1965, 10–11 March 1966, and 6 April 1966.<ref name="rao17" /> The March 1966 general strike resulted in several deaths during confrontations with police forces.<ref name="rao17" />
 
Also in Kerala, mass arrests of CPI(M) cadres were carried out during 1965. In [[Bihar]], the party called for a ''[[hartal|Bandh]]'' (general strike) in [[Patna]] on 9 August 1965 in protest against the Congress state government.<ref name="rao17" /> 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.<ref name="rao17" />
 
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.<ref name="rao17">{{harvnb|Rao|2003|pp=17–18}}.</ref>
 
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 the fact that several of the persons elected as CC members at the Calcutta Congress were jailed at the time.{{efn|The jailed members of the new CC, at the time of the Calcutta Congress, were [[B.T. Ranadive]], Muzaffar Ahmed, Hare Krishna Konar, and Promode Das Gupta.<ref>{{harvnb|Bose|2005|pp=44–45}}.</ref>}} A CC meeting had been scheduled to have been held in [[Trichur]] 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 except Jan Sangh and Swatantra Party). This decision was strongly criticized by the Communist Party of China, the [[Party of Labour of Albania]], the [[Communist Party of New Zealand]], and the radicals within the party itself. The line was changed at a National Council meeting in [[Jullunder]] in October 1966, where it was decided that the party should only form alliances with select left parties.<ref>{{harvnb|Rao|2003|pp=234–235}}.</ref>
 
=== Naxalbari uprising (1967) ===
{{main|Naxalite}}
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.{{efn|According to Basu,<ref>{{harvnb|Basu|2000}}.{{page needed|date=November 2021}}</ref> there were two nuclei of radicals in the party organization in West Bengal. One "theorist" section around Parimal Das Gupta in Calcutta, which wanted to persuade the party leadership to correct revisionist mistakes through inner-party debate, and one "actionist" section led by [[Charu Majumdar]] and [[Kanu Sanyal]] in North Bengal. The 'actionists' were impatient and strived to organize armed uprisings. According to Basu, due to the prevailing political climate of youth and student rebellion, it was the 'actionists' who came to dominate the new Maoist movement in India, instead of the more theoretically advanced sections. This dichotomy is however rebuffed by followers of the radical stream, for example, the CPI(ML) Liberation.<ref>{{harvnb|Basu|2000}}.{{page needed|date=November 2021}}</ref><ref>[http://www.cpiml.org/liberation/year_2001/october/charu.htm CPI(ML) Liberation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927013802/http://www.cpiml.org/liberation/year_2001/october/charu.htm|date=27 September 2007}}.</ref>}}
 
In 1967 a peasant uprising broke out in [[Naxalbari]], in northern West Bengal. The insurgency was led by hardline district-level CPI(M) leaders [[Charu Majumdar]] and [[Kanu Sanyal]]. The hardliners within CPI(M) saw the Naxalbari uprising as the spark that would ignite the Indian revolution. The Communist Party of China hailed the Naxalbari movement, causing an abrupt break in CPI(M)-CPC relations.{{efn|On 1 July, ''[[People's Daily]]'' carried an article titled "Spring Thunder Over India",<ref>{{cite news |title=Spring Thunder Over India |url=http://www.marxists.org/subject/china/documents/peoples-daily/1967/07/05.htm |work=People's Daily |date=1 July 1967 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223115803/http://www.marxists.org/subject/china/documents/peoples-daily/1967/07/05.htm |archive-date=23 February 2007 |language=en}}</ref> expressing the support of CPC to the Naxalbari rebels. At its meeting in [[Madurai]] on 18–27 August 1967, the Central Committee of CPI(M) adopted a resolution titled "Resolution on Divergent Views Between Our Party and the Communist Party of China on Certain Fundamental Issues of Programme and Policy".<ref>{{harvnb|Bose|2005|p=46}}.</ref>}}
 
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 an [[All India Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries]]. {{citation needed|date=August 2020}} Following the 1968 [[Burdwan]] plenum of CPI(M) (held on 5–12 April 1968), the AICCCR separated themselves from CPI(M). {{citation needed|date=August 2020}} 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 the [[Naxalite]]s (as the rebels were called) were soon to get into a bloody feud.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}
 
In Andhra Pradesh, another revolt was taking place. There the pro-Naxalbari dissidents had not established any presence. But in the party organization, there were many veterans from the Telangana armed struggle, who 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 was [[T. 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, and [[Chandra Pulla Reddy]].{{efn|This press statement was reproduced in full in the central CPI(M) publication, People's Democracy, on 30 June. P. Sundarayya and M. Basavapunniah, acting on behalf of the Polit Bureau of CPI(M), formulated a response to the statement on 16 June, titled 'Rebuff the Rebels, Uphold Party Unity'.<ref>{{harvnb|Bose|2005|p=48}}.</ref>}}
 
In total around 50% of the party cadres in Andhra Pradesh left the party to form the [[Andhra Pradesh Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries]], under the leadership of T. Nagi Reddy.{{efn|Some perceive that the Chinese leadership severely misjudged the actual conditions of different Indian factions at the time, giving their full support to the Majumdar-Sanyal group whilst keeping the Andhra Pradesh radicals (that had a considerable mass following) at distance.}}
 
=== Dismissal of United Front governments in West Bengal and Kerala (1967–1970) ===
[[File:Hammer and Sickle - Kerala.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A tableau in a CPI(M) rally in Kerala, India showing two farmers forming the [[hammer and sickle]].]]
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 by [[Prafulla Chandra Ghosh]], but that cabinet did not last long. Following the proclamation that the United Front government had been dislodged, a 48-hour hartal was effective throughout the state.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} 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. {{citation needed|date=August 2020}}
 
The 8th Party Congress of CPI(M) was held in [[Cochin]], Kerala, on 23–29 December 1968. On 25 December 1968, whilst the congress was held, 42 [[Dalit]]s were [[Kilvenmani massacre|burned alive]] in the [[Tamil Nadu|Tamil]] village of [[Kizhavenmani]]. The massacre was a retaliation from landlords after Dalit labourers had taken part in a CPI(M)-led agitation for higher wages.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/magazine/issue/vol17-12/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223113220/http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1712/17121050.htm |url-status=dead |title=Latest Volume17-Issue12 News, Photos, Latest News Headlines about Volume17-Issue12 |archive-date=23 February 2008 |website=Frontline}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://nhrc.nic.in/Publications/NHRCJournal2002.pdf |title=Untitled-1<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=27 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023515/http://nhrc.nic.in/Publications/NHRCJournal2002.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
 
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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kerala.gov.in/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060805205314/http://www.kerala.gov.in/knowkerala/political.htm |url-status=dead |title=Home – Government of Kerala, India |archive-date=5 August 2006 |website=kerala.gov.in}}</ref> A coalition government led by CPI leader [[C. Achutha Menon]] was formed, with the outside support of the [[Indian National Congress]].
 
==== Elections in West Bengal and Kerala ====
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.{{efn|Indian National Congress had won 23 seats, Bangla Congress 33, and CPI 30. CPI(M) allies also won several seats.<ref group="e">{{cite report |title=Statistical Report on General Election, 1969 to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal |url=http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1969/StatReport_WB_69.pdf |work=[[Election Commission of India]] |location=New Delhi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129141351/http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1969/StatReport_WB_69.pdf |archive-date=29 November 2007 |language=en-IN}}{{page needed|date=November 2021}}</ref>}} But with the active support of CPI and the [[Bangla 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.
 
In Kerala, fresh elections were held in 1970. CPI(M) contested 73 seats and won 29. After the election, Achutha Menon formed a new ministry, including ministers from the Indian National Congress. {{citation needed|date=August 2020}}
 
=== Formation of CITU (1970) ===
{{main|Centre of Indian Trade Unions}}
'''Centre of Indian Trade Unions''', CITU is a National level [[Trade Union]] in India and its trade union wing is a spearhead of the Indian Trade Union Movement.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} The Centre of Indian Trade Unions is today one of biggest assembly of workers and classes of India. It has strong unchallengeable presence in the [[States and territories of India|Indian state]] of Tripura besides a good presence in [[West Bengal]], Kerala and [[Kanpur]]. They have an average presence in [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Andhra Pradesh]].
 
[[File:Cituposterkolkata.jpg|thumb|left|4th CITU [[West Bengal]] state conference poster]] According to the provisional statistics from the [[Ministry of Labour and Employment (India)|Ministry of Labour]], CITU had a membership of approximately 6,040,000 in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |others=Special Correspondent |date=26 March 2018 |title=CITU plans to expand its base in IT sector |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/citu-plans-to-expand-its-base-in-it-sector/article23358181.ece |access-date=4 December 2020 |issn=0971-751X |language=en-IN}}</ref>
 
[[Tapan Kumar Sen]] is the General Secretary and [[K. Hemalata]] is the president of CITU. K. Hemalata was the first woman President in CITU who was elected after [[A. K. Padmanabhan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2016/state-editions/a-first-woman-elected-citu-president.html |title=A first: Woman elected CITU president |work=The Pioneer |access-date=31 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref> It runs a monthly organ named ''WORKING CLASS''.
 
CITU is affiliated to the [[World Federation of Trade Unions]].<ref>World Federation of Trade Unions. ''[http://www.wftucentral.org/indian-trade-union-delegation-visits-venezuelan-embassy-in-new-delhi/ Indian Trade Union Delegation visits Venezuelan Embassy in New Delhi]''</ref>
 
=== Outbreak of war in East Pakistan (1971–1972) ===
{{main|Bangladesh Communist Party (Leninist)}}
In 1971 [[Bangladesh]] (formerly [[East Pakistan]]) declared its independence from [[Pakistan]]. The Pakistani military tried to quell the uprising. India intervened militarily and gave active backing to the [[Mukti Bahini|Bangladeshi rebels]]. {{citation needed|date=August 2020}} Millions of Bangladeshi refugees sought shelter in India, especially in West Bengal. {{citation needed|date=August 2020}}
 
At the time the radical sections of the Bangladeshi communist movement were divided into many [[Political factions|factions]]. Whilst the pro-Soviet [[Communist 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 the [[Bangladesh Communist Party (Leninist)]]. The new party became the sister party of CPI(M) in Bangladesh.{{efn|The same is also true for the [[Workers Party of Bangladesh]], which was formed in 1980 when BCP(L) merged with other groups. Although politically close, WPB can be said to have a more Maoist-oriented profile than CPI(M).}}
 
=== Boycott of Assembly and Emergency rule (1972–1977) ===
[[File:Jyoti Basu 006 (cropped).jpg|150px|thumb|Longest serving [[Chief Minister of West Bengal]], [[Jyoti Basu]] in his office.]]
In 1975, the [[Prime Minister of India]], Indira Gandhi imposed a [[national emergency]] on the premise of internal disturbances suspending elections, legitimising [[rule by decree]] and curbing [[civil liberties]].<ref name=":66">{{cite journal |last=Prashad |first=Vijay |date=1996 |title=Emergency Assessments |journal=Social Scientist |volume=24 |issue=9/10 |pages=36–68 |doi=10.2307/3520142 |jstor=3520142 |issn=0970-0293}}</ref> The proposition for the declaration of the emergency and the formal draft of the ordinance were both notably corroborated to have been forwarded by [[Siddhartha Shankar Ray]].<ref>{{cite web |last=C G |first=Manoj |date=13 June 2015 |title=S S Ray to Indira Gandhi six months before Emergency: Crack down, get law ready |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/six-months-before-emergency-s-s-ray-to-indira-gandhi-crack-down-get-law-ready/ |website=[[The Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Narayan |first=S. |date=25 June 2020 |title=Why Did Indira Gandhi Impose Emergency In 1975? |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/hans/opinion/news-analysis/why-did-indira-gandhi-impose-emergency-in-1975-630015 |website=[[The Hans India]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Jacob |first=Jack Farj Rafael |title=An Odyssey in War and Peace: An Autobiography of Lt. Gen JFR Jacob |publisher=[[Roli Books]] |year=2012 |isbn=9788174369338 |pages=189 |author-link=J. F. R. Jacob}}</ref> The Communist Party of India (Marxist) emerged as one of the primary opposition to [[the emergency rule of Indira Gandhi]].<ref name=":66" /> The following period witnessed a succession of [[authoritarian]] measures and political repression, which was particularly severe in West Bengal.<ref>{{cite book |last=DeSouza |first=Peter Ronald |title=India's Political Parties |date=3 October 2006 |publisher=SAGE Publishing India |isbn=978-93-5280-534-1 |pages=217–221 |language=en}}</ref> The members of the CPI-M's labour union became the first subject to political repression and [[mass arrest]]s while the rest of the members of the CPI-M went underground.<ref name=":582">{{cite book |last=Ruparelia |first=Sanjay |title=Divided We Govern: Coalition Politics in Modern India |year=2015 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-026491-8 |pages=71–72 |language=en}}</ref>
 
With the initiation of the [[Jayaprakash 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 the [[Janata Party]]. Several of the leaders of the CPI-M were also influenced by JP with [[Jyoti Basu]] noted to be one of his prominent admirers having worked under him in the [[All India Railwaymen's Federation]] during the 1940s.<ref name=":582" /> The involvement of the [[Hindutva]] movement however complicated matters, according to JP the formal inclusion of the marxists who had underwent a splintering and whose organisation was localised in particular region would have been detrimental to the movement as the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] members would switch sides if they joined.<ref name=":582" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Prakash |first=Gyan |title=Emergency Chronicles: Indira Gandhi and Democracy's Turning Point |date=8 December 2018 |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |isbn=978-93-5305-351-2 |author-link=Gyan Prakash |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":582" /> After the revocation of the emergency, the CPI-M joined an electoral alliance with the Janata Party in the [[1977 Indian general election]] which resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Janata Alliance.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Blair |first=Harry W. |date=April 1980 |title=Mrs Gandhi's Emergency, The Indian Elections of 1977, Pluralism and Marxism: Problems with Paradigms |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/modern-asian-studies/article/mrs-gandhis-emergency-the-indian-elections-of-1977-pluralism-and-marxism-problems-with-paradigms/908EF9B139D645655C3336A4D17F2FAE |journal=Modern Asian Studies |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=237–271 |doi=10.1017/S0026749X00007320 |issn=1469-8099 |language=en}}</ref>
 
=== Left Front Government formation in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura assembly (1977 afterwards) ===
==== West Bengal ====
[[File:Cpmmural5.jpg|thumb|Bengali mural for the CPI(M) candidate in the Kolkata North West constituency in the [[2004 Indian general election|2004 Lok Sabha election]], [[Sudhangshu Seal]]]]
 
For the [[1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election]], negotiations between the [[Janata Party]] and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) broke down.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mahaprashasta |first=Ajoy Ashirwad |date=4 May 2016 |title=Why Has Nobody Called It Yet? An Analysis of the West Bengal Elections |url=https://thewire.in/politics/why-has-nobody-called-it-yet-an-analysis-of-the-west-bengal-elections |website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref> This led to a three sided contested between the [[Indian National Congress]], the Janata Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) led [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left 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 the [[Chief Minister of West Bengal]] for the next 23 years until his retirement in 2000. Basu was also repeatedly elected as the representative of the [[Satgachhia constituency]] from 1977 to 2001.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 January 2010 |title=Jyoti Basu pulls in the crowds – one last time |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/jyoti-basu-pulls-in-the-crowds-one-last-time/story-ExpoMM4jnIE9pvIvqLQN9H.html |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en}}</ref>
 
From 2000 to 2011, the CPI(M) was led by [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee]] who remained the [[Chief Minister of West Bengal]] for 11 years.
 
==== Kerala ====
[[File:Cpimmobile.jpg|thumb|Campaign vehicle in [[Ernakulam]], Kerala.]]
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, two main pre-poll political alliances were formed: the [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|Left 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 in [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]] in 1980 under the leadership of [[E. K. Nayanar]] who later became the longest serving [[Chief minister of Kerala]], ever since [[1980 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1980 election]], the power has been clearly alternating between the two alliances till the [[2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2016]]. In 2016, LDF won the 2016 election and had a historic re-election in [[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2021 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=LDF shatters Kerala's 40-year record, Pinarayi Vijayan now the Marxist Helmsman |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/kerala/ldf-shatters-keralas-40-year-record-pinarayi-vijayan-now-the-marxist-helmsman/articleshow/82359214.cms?from=mdr |access-date=3 May 2021}}</ref>
 
==== Tripura ====
The [[Left Front (Tripura)|Left Front]]  governed Tripura 1978–1988, and again from 1993 to 2018.<ref name="Chakrabarty2014">{{cite book |author=Bidyut Chakrabarty |title=Left Radicalism in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R0xWBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA88 |date=13 November 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-66805-3 |pages=87–88}}</ref> The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is the dominant party in the coalition.<ref name="Chakrabarty2014" /><ref name="Bareh2001">{{cite book |author=Hamlet Bareh |title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Tripura |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fk8kq9PUapkC&pg=PA58 |year=2001 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-795-5 |page=58}}</ref> The other three members of the Left Front are the Communist Party of India, the [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]] and the [[All India Forward Bloc]].<ref name="Rana2006">{{cite book |author=Mahendra Singh Rana |title=India Votes: Lok Sabha & Vidhan Sabha Elections 2001–2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yInZdHn-pKoC&pg=PA420 |year=2006 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=978-81-7625-647-6 |pages=420–421}}</ref>
 
== Leadership and organisation ==
{{see also|Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
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]]-led [[United 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Left meets President, hands over letter of withdrawal |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200807091250.htm |work=The Hindu |date=9 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080713070349/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200807091250.htm |archive-date=13 July 2008 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
 
In West Bengal and Tripura it participates in the [[Left Front (Tripura)|Left Front]]. In Kerala the party is part of the [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|Left Democratic Front]]. In Tamil Nadu, it is part of the [[Secular Progressive Alliance]] led by the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK).
 
Its members in Great Britain are in the electoral front [[Unity for Peace and Socialism]] with the [[Communist Party of Britain]] and the British domiciled sections of the [[Communist Party of Bangladesh]] and the [[Communist Party of Greece]] (KKE). It is standing 13 candidates in the London-wide list section of the [[London Assembly]] elections in May 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ufps.org.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218093242/http://ufps.org.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 February 2010 |title=Unity For Peace and Socialism homepage}}</ref>
 
=== Leadership ===
[[File:Cpmleadership18thcongress.jpg|thumb|CPI(M) leaders at the 18th party congress]]
[[File:Cpmcongress1316.JPG|thumb|[[Harkishan Singh Surjeet]] and [[Jyoti Basu]]]]
The current general secretary of CPI(M) is [[Sitaram Yechury]]. The 22nd party congress of CPI(M), held in [[Hyderabad]] 18 April 2018 elected a Central Committee with 95 members including 2 permanent invitees, 6 invitees and a five-member Central Control Commission. The Central Committee later elected a 17-member [[Politburo]]:<ref name="cpim.org">{{cite web |url=https://cpim.org/pressbriefs/new-central-committee-elected-22nd-congress |title=New Central Committee Elected at the 22nd Congress |access-date=27 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527202640/https://cpim.org/pressbriefs/new-central-committee-elected-22nd-congress |archive-date=27 May 2018 |url-status=live |date=22 April 2018}}</ref>
 
=== Politburo members ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col" | {{abbr|No.|Number}}
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | State
|-
|1
|[[Sitaram Yechury]] <small>(General Secretary)</small>
|Andhra Pradesh
|-
|2
|[[Prakash Karat]] <small>(Former General Secretary)</small>
|West Bengal
|-
|3
|[[S. Ramachandran Pillai]]
|Kerala
|-
|4
|[[Manik Sarkar]] <small> ([[List of Chief Ministers of Tripura|Former Chief Minister of Tripura]])</small>
|Tripura
|-
|5
|[[Pinarayi Vijayan]] <small>([[List of Chief Ministers of Kerala|Chief Minister of Kerala]])</small>
|Kerala
|-
|6
|[[Biman Bose]]
|West Bengal
|-
|7
|[[B. V. Raghavulu]]
|Andhra Pradesh
|-
|8
|[[Brinda Karat]]
|West Bengal
|-
|9
|[[Kodiyeri Balakrishnan]]
|Kerala
|-
|10
|[[Surja Kanta Mishra]]
|West Bengal
|-
|11
|[[M. A. Baby]]
|Kerala
|-
|12
|[[Mohammed Salim (politician)|Mohammed Salim]]
|West Bengal
|-
|13
|[[Subhashini Ali]]
|Uttar Pradesh
|-
|14
|[[Hannan Mollah]]
|West Bengal
|-
|15
|[[G.Ramakrishnan]]
|Tamil Nadu
|-
|16
|[[Tapan Kumar Sen]]
|West Bengal
|-
|17
|[[Nilotpal Basu]]
|West Bengal
|-
|}
The 22nd party congress newly inducts Tapan Sen and Nilotpal Basu into the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Politburo]].<ref name="cpim.org" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://cpim.org/content/leadership |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212015159/http://www.cpim.org/content/leadership |url-status=dead |title=List of State Secretaries<!-- Bot generated title --> |archive-date=12 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/surya-kanta-mishra-replaces-biman-bose-as-cpi-m-bengal-unit-secretary-115031301039_1.html |title=Surya Kanta Mishra replaces Biman Bose as CPI(M) Bengal unit secretary |author=BS Reporter |date=13 March 2015 |access-date=27 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703123722/http://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/surya-kanta-mishra-replaces-biman-bose-as-cpi-m-bengal-unit-secretary-115031301039_1.html |archive-date=3 July 2015 |url-status=live |newspaper=Business Standard India}}</ref>
 
=== General Secretary ===
{{multiple image
| align    = right
| direction = vertical
| header    = Communist Party of India (Marxist)
| width    = 200
|image1=Akgopalanbhavan240.jpg
|caption1=AKG Bhavan, the CPI(M) national headquarters in [[Delhi]] {{coord|28|37|53.6|N|77|12|17.9|E}}}}
Article XV, Section 15 of the party constitution says:
 
<blockquote>"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."<ref>[http://cpim.org/party-constitution CPI(M) Constitution] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315084048/http://cpim.org/party-constitution |date=15 March 2015 }}.</ref></blockquote>
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ General Secretaries<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cpim.org/content/members-pb-elected-previous-congresses |title=Members of PB – 7th to 19th Congress &#124; Communist Party of India (Marxist) |publisher=Cpim.org |access-date=20 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125073315/http://cpim.org/content/members-pb-elected-previous-congresses |archive-date=25 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="cpim">{{cite web |url=http://cpim.org/content/members-pb-elected-previous-congresses |title=CPI (M) Website |access-date=9 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124133818/http://cpim.org/content/members-pb-elected-previous-congresses |archive-date=24 November 2012}}</ref>
|-
! {{abbr|No.|Number}} !! Photo !! Name !! Tenure
|-
| '''1st'''|| ||[[Puchalapalli Sundarayya|P. Sundarayya]] || 1964–1978
|-
| '''2nd'''|| [[File:E. M. S. Namboodiripad.jpg|75px]] ||[[E.M.S. Namboodiripad]] || 1978–1992
|-
| '''3rd'''|| [[File:Surjith-3.JPG|75px]] ||[[Harkishan Singh Surjeet]] || 1992–2005
|-
| '''4th'''|| [[File:Prakashkarat.JPG|75px]] ||[[Prakash Karat]] || 2005–2015
|-
| '''5th'''|| [[File:Yechuri 1.JPG|75px]] ||[[Sitaram Yechury]] || 2015–''Incumbent''
|-
|}
 
=== Principal mass organisations ===
[[File:Cpmcongress (87).JPG|thumb|CPI(M) 18th Congress rally in [[Delhi]]]]
* [[Democratic Youth Federation of India]]
* [[Students Federation of India]]
* [[Centre of Indian Trade Unions]]
* [[All India Kisan Sabha (Ashoka Road)|All India Kisan Sabha]]
* [[All India Agricultural Workers Union]]
* Kerala Non-Gazetted Officers Union
* [[All India Democratic Women's Association]]
* [[Bank Employees Federation of India]]
* [[Ganamukti Parishad]]
In [[Tripura]], the [[Ganamukti Parishad]] is a major mass organisation amongst the [[Tripuri people|Tripuri]] peoples of the state. In Kerala, the [[Adivasi Kshema Samithi]], a tribal organization, is controlled by CPI(M).
 
{{clear}}
 
== Presence in states ==
[[File:Communist Parties of India in states.png|200px|thumb|States that had chief ministers from CPI(M)]]
 
{{as of|2021|alt=As of the [[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election]]|post=,}} the CPI(M) heads the state government in [[Kerala]]. [[Pinarayi Vijayan]] is Chief Minister of Kerala. In [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Tamil Nadu]] it leads the Government with [[Secular Progressive Alliance|SPA]] coalition led by [[M. K. Stalin]]. The Left Front under CPI(M) governed [[West Bengal]] for uninterrupted 34 years (1977–2011) and [[Tripura]] for 30 years including uninterrupted 25 years (1993–2018). The 34 years of [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] rule in West Bengal is the longest serving democratically elected communist-led government in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-may-12-fg-communists12-story.html|title=Communists Lead Kolkata's Capitalist Makeover|date=May 12, 2006|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Seats won by CPI(M) in [[State legislative assemblies of India|state legislative assemblies]]
|-
! State legislative assembly
! Last election
! Contested<br />seats
! Seats won
! colspan="2" | Alliance
! Result
! {{Ref.}}
|-
| [[Assam Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2021 Assam Legislative Assembly election|2021]]
| 2
| {{Composition bar|1|126|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| style="background-color: #EC2320;" |
| Mahajot
| {{no2|in opposition}}
| <ref group="e">{{cite web |title=Assam General Legislative Election 2021 |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/13620-assam-general-legislative-election-2021/ |website=Election Commission of India |access-date=13 November 2021 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
|-
| [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2020]]
| 4
| {{Composition bar|2|243|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| style="background-color: #008000;" |
| [[Mahagathbandhan (Bihar)|Mahagathbandhan]]
| {{no2|in opposition}}
|
|-
| [[Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2017 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|2017]]
| 14
| {{Composition bar|1|68|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| colspan="2" {{n/a}}
| {{no2|Others}}
|
|-
| [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|2021]]
| 77
| {{Composition bar|62|140|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}};" |
| [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|Left Democratic Front]]
| {{yes2|in government}}
|
|-
| [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2019 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election|2019]]
| 8
| {{Composition bar|1|288|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| colspan="2" {{n/a}}
| {{no2|others}}
|
|-
| [[Odisha Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2019 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|2019]]
| 5
| {{Composition bar|1|147|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| colspan="2" {{n/a}}
| {{no2|others}}
|
|-
| [[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2018 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2018]]
| 28
| {{Composition bar|2|200|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| colspan="2" {{n/a}}
| {{no2|others}}
|
|-
| [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2021]]
| 6
| {{Composition bar|2|234|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| style="background-color:#0093AF;" |
| [[Secular Progressive Alliance]]
| {{yes2|in Government}}
|
|-
| [[Tripura Legislative Assembly]]
| [[2018 Tripura Legislative Assembly election|2018]]
| 57
| {{Composition bar|16|60|hex={{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
| style="background-color:#FF0000;" |
| [[Left Front (Tripura)|Left Front]]
| {{no2|in opposition}}
|
|}
 
==State legislative assembly results ==
[[File:Pinarayi Vijayan 1.jpg|thumb|[[Pinarayi Vijayan]], Chief Minister of Kerala.]]
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! State
! Total<br />seats
! Seats won /<br />Seats contested
! Change<br />in seats
! Votes
! Percentage
! Change in %
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[2017 elections in India|2017]]
|[[Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Himachal Pradesh]]
|68
|{{Composition bar|1|14|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
|55,558
|1.5%
|{{decrease}} 0.1%
|-
|[[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Uttar Pradesh]]
|403
|{{Composition bar|0|26|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|35,207
|0.04%
|{{n/a}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[2018 elections in India|2018]]
|[[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly|Rajasthan]]
|200
|{{Composition bar|2|28|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|434,210
|1.2%
|{{increase}} 0.33%
|-
|[[Telangana Legislative Assembly|Telangana]]
|119
|{{Composition bar|0|26|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
|91,099
|0.40%
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[Tripura Legislative Assembly|Tripura]]
|60
|{{Composition bar|16|57|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 33
|9,93,605
|42.22%
|{{decrease}} 5.59%
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[2019 elections in India|2019]]
|[[Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly|Andhra Pradesh]]
|175
|{{Composition bar|0|7|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|101,071
|0.32%
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Maharashtra]]
|288
|{{Composition bar|1|8|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|204,933
|0.37%
|{{decrease}} 0.02%
|-
|[[Odisha Legislative Assembly|Odisha]]
|147
|{{Composition bar|1|5|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}}
|70,119
|0.32%
|{{n/a}}
|-
|[[2020 elections in India|2020]]
|[[Bihar Legislative Assembly|Bihar]]
|243
|{{Composition bar|2|4|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|274,155
|0.65%
|{{increase}} 0.05
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[2021 elections in India|2021]]
|[[Assam Legislative Assembly|Assam]]
|126
|{{Composition bar|1|2|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
|160,758
|0.84%
|{{increase}} 0.29%
|- style="background-color:#FFE6E6" ;
|[[Kerala Legislative Assembly|Kerala]]
|140
|{{Composition bar|62|77|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 4
|5,288,502
|25.38%
|{{decrease}} 1.14%
|- style="background-color:#FFE6E6" ;
|[[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Tamil Nadu]]
|234
|{{Composition bar|2|6|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|390,455
|0.84%
| {{N/A}}
|-
| [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly|West Bengal]]
|294
|{{Composition bar|0|136|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 26
|2,837,276
|4.73%
|{{decrease}} 15.02%
|}
*{{legend2|#FFE6E6|indicates in government or in Coalition government |border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
 
== Indian general elections results ==
{{main|Electoral history of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
 
[[File:CPIM election decorations.JPG|thumbnail|right|CPI(M) election decoration]]
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Performance of Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Loksabha elections
! Year
! Legislature
! Total constituencies
! Seats won / contested
! Change in seats
! Total votes
! {{abbr|Per.|Percent}} of votes
! Change in vote %
! {{ref.}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1967 Indian general election|1967]]
|[[4th Lok Sabha]]
|520
|{{Composition bar|19|59|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|New
|6,246,522
|4.28 %
|New
|<ref name="ECI1967" group="e">{{cite report |title=Statistical Report on General Elections, 1967 to the Fourth Lok Sabha |volume=1 |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1967/Vol_I_LS_67.pdf |work=Election Commission of India |location=New Delhi |year=1968 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226101610/http://eci.gov.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1967/Vol_I_LS_67.pdf |archive-date=26 December 2013 |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=78 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1971 Indian general election|1971]]
|[[5th Lok Sabha]]
|518
|{{Composition bar|25|85|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 06
|7,510,089
|5.12 %
|{{increase}} 0.84%
|<ref name="ECI1971" group="e">{{cite report |title=Statistical Report on General Elections, 1967 to the Fourth Lok Sabha |volume=1 |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf |work=Election Commission of India |location=New Delhi |year=1968 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021044322/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=18 October 2014 |page=79 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1977 Indian general election|1977]]
|[[6th Lok Sabha]]
|542
|{{Composition bar|22|53|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 03
|8,113,659
|4.29 %
|{{decrease}} 0.83%
|<ref name="ECI1977" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1977/Vol_I_LS_77.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1977 Vol. 1 |work=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=18 October 2014 |pages=89}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1980 Indian general election|1980]]
|[[7th Lok Sabha]]
|529(542*)
|{{Composition bar|37|64|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 15
|12,352,331
|6.24 %
|{{increase}} 1.95%
|<ref name="ECI1980" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1980/Vol_I_LS_80.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1980 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |pages=86}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1984 Indian general election|1984]]
|[[8th Lok Sabha]]
|541
|{{Composition bar|22|64|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 15
|14,272,526
|5.72 %
|{{decrease}} 0.52%
|<ref name="ECI1984" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1984/Vol_I_LS_84.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1984 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |pages=81}}</ref><ref name="ECI1985" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1985/Vol_I_LS_85.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1985 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |pages=15}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1989 Indian general election|1989]]
|[[9th Lok Sabha]]
|529
|{{Composition bar|33|64|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 11
|19,691,309
|6.55 %
|{{increase}} 0.83
|<ref name="ECI1989" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1989/Vol_I_LS_89.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1989 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |pages=88}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1991 Indian general election|1991]]
|[[10th Lok Sabha]]
|534
|{{Composition bar|35|63|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 02
|17,074,699
|6.14 %
|{{decrease}} 0.41%
|<ref name="ECI1991" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1991/VOL_I_91.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1991 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |pages=58}}</ref><ref name="ECI1992" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1992/GE_VOL_I_92.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1992 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |pages=13}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1996 Indian general election|1996]]
|[[11th Lok Sabha]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|32|75|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 03
|20,496,810
|6.12 %
|{{decrease}} 0.02%
|<ref name="ECI1996" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1996/Vol_I_LS_96.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1996 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |pages=93}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1998 Indian general election|1998]]
|[[12th Lok Sabha]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|32|71|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{steady}} 00
|18,991,867
|5.16 %
|{{decrease}} 0.96%
|<ref name="ECI1998" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1998/Vol_I_LS_98.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1998 Vol. 1 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=18 October 2014 |pages=92 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718181833/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1998/Vol_I_LS_98.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2014}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[1999 Indian general election|1999]]
|[[13th Lok Sabha]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|33|72|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 01
|19,695,767
|5.40 %
|{{increase}} 0.24%
|<ref name="ECI1999" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1999/Vol_I_LS_99.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 1999 Vol. 1 |work=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=18 October 2014 |pages=92 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718183222/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1999/Vol_I_LS_99.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2014}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[2004 Indian general election|2004]]
|[[14th Lok Sabha]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|43|69|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{increase}} 10
|22,070,614
|5.66 %
|{{increase}} 0.26%
|<ref name="ECI2004" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_2004/Vol_I_LS_2004.pdf |title=LS Statistical Report : 2004 Vol. 1 |work=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=18 October 2014 |pages=101}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[2009 Indian general election|2009]]
|[[15th Lok Sabha]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|16|82|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 27
|22,219,111
|5.33 %
|{{decrease}} 0.33%
|<ref name="ECI2009" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2009/Stats/VOLI/12_PerformanceOfNationalParties.pdf |title=LS 2009 : Performance of National Parties |work=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=18 October 2014}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[2014 Indian general election|2014]]
|[[16th Lok Sabha]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|9|93|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 07
|17,986,773
|3.24 %
|{{decrease}} 2.09%
|<ref name="ECI2014" group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2014/4%20-%20List%20of%20Successful%20Candidates.pdf |title=LS 2014 : List of successful candidates |work=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=18 October 2014 |pages=93}}</ref>
|- style="text-align:center;"
|[[2019 Indian general election|2019]]
|[[17th Lok Sabha]]
|543
|{{Composition bar|3|71|{{party color|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 06
|10,744,908
|1.75 %
|{{decrease}} 1.49%
|<ref name="ECI2019" group="e">{{cite web |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/10987-4-list-of-successful-candidate |title=LS 2019 : List of successful candidates |work=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref>
|}
 
=== 1967 general election ===
In the 1967 [[Lok 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.{{efn|In Kerala the United Front consisted, at the time of the election, of Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, the [[Indian Union Muslim League|Muslim League]], the [[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]], the [[Karshaka Thozhilali Party]] and the [[Kerala Socialist Party]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kerala.gov.in/knowkerala/political.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=26 July 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060805205314/http://www.kerala.gov.in/knowkerala/political.htm |archive-date=5 August 2006}}</ref>}} In West Bengal, the CPI(M) was the main force behind the [[United Front (1967)|United Front]] government formed. The Chief Ministership was given to [[Ajoy Mukherjee]] of the [[Bangla Congress]] (a regional splinter group of the Indian National Congress).
 
=== 1971 general election ===
With the backdrop of the Bangladesh War and the emerging role of [[Indira 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 (including [[Somnath Chatterjee]], elected from Burdwan), 2 from Kerala (including A.K. Gopalan, elected from Palakkad), 2 from Tripura (Biren Dutta and [[Dasarath Deb]]) and 1 from Andhra Pradesh.<ref group="e">{{cite web |url=http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616182735/http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/LS_1971/Vol_I_LS71.pdf |url-status=dead |title=ECI: Statistical Report on the 1971 Lok Sabha Election |archive-date=16 June 2007}}</ref>
 
In the same year, state legislative elections were held in three states; West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and [[Odisha]]. 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 drew blank. The party got 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).<ref group="e">[http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_OR_71.pdf ECI: Statistical Report on the 1971 Orissa Legislative Election] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616182919/http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_OR_71.pdf |date=16 June 2007 }}, [http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_TN_71.pdf ECI: Statistical Report on the 1971 Tamil Nadu Legislative Election] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616183041/http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_TN_71.pdf |date=16 June 2007 }}, [http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_WB_71.pdf ECI: Statistical Report on the 1971 West Bengal Legislative Election] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616182944/http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1971/StatReport_WB_71.pdf |date=16 June 2007 }}</ref>
 
=== 1977 general elections ===
In the 1977 Lok Sabha elections, the CPI(M) had 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, 3 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.<ref group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1977/Vol_I_LS_77.pdf |title=1977 general elections ECI Report |access-date=27 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718185438/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1977/Vol_I_LS_77.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2014}}</ref>
 
=== 1980 general elections ===
Janta Party coalition did not last much and two years after its formation India had faced the 1980s Lok Sabha Elections. 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, 7 in Kerala, and 2 seats in Tripura. The party emerged out as the whole sole representative of the people of Tripura in this election.<ref group="e">{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1980/Vol_I_LS_80.pdf |title=1980 General Elections ECI Report |access-date=27 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718175926/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1980/Vol_I_LS_80.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2014}}</ref>
 
=== 2002 presidential elections ===
[[File:Indian Marxist graffiti 2004.jpg|thumb|[[2004 Indian general election|2004 general election]] mural for CPI(M) candidate [[Sujan Chakraborty]] in [[Jadavpur]]]]
In the 2002 Presidential elections, Left Front announced [[Lakshmi Sehgal|Captain Lakshmi Sehgal]] as its presidential candidate. Against her was the ruling [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'s candidate [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]].<ref name="the_hindu">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2002/06/15/stories/2002061504230100.htm |title=Left parties to field Lakshmi Sahgal |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=15 June 2002 |access-date=29 June 2012 |location=New Delhi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109014435/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2002/06/15/stories/2002061504230100.htm |archive-date=9 November 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> CPI(M)'s Leadership has announced that in form of Captain Lakshmi, they are fielding an 'Alternative Candidate'. They said that though it is clear that Captain Lakshmi can't be the President of India because of the opposition of BJP led NDA and [[Indian National Congress]] to her, but through this Presidential Election Left wants to raise key national issues, and make them heard to the masses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pd.cpim.org/2002/july07/07072002_lakshmi_q&a.htm |title=question & answer on the election |work=cpim.org |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406213248/http://pd.cpim.org/2002/july07/07072002_lakshmi_q%26a.htm |archive-date=6 April 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Captain Lakshmi herself had pointed out that this Presidential election reflects the opposition of the Indian Left to the Communal-Secreterian Politics of BJP and solidarity with the religious minorities who have suffered greatly under the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]]'s leadership.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pd.cpim.org/2002/june23/06232002_lakshmi_interview.htm |title=interview with lakshmi sahgal |work=cpim.org |access-date=14 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725201958/http://pd.cpim.org/2002/june23/06232002_lakshmi_interview.htm |archive-date=25 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
=== 2012 Vice-presidential election ===
While CPI(M) supported [[Pranab Mukherjee]] as presidential candidate in [[2012 Indian presidential election|2012 presidential election]], it was in favour of a non-Congress candidate for the post of the [[Vice-President of India|Vice-President]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cpim-favours-noncongress-candidate-for-vp-post-prakash-karat/973500/ |title=CPI(M) favours non-Congress candidate for VP post: Prakash Karat |date=12 July 2012 |access-date=12 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317222928/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/cpim-favours-noncongress-candidate-for-vp-post-prakash-karat/973500/ |archive-date=17 March 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>
 
=== 2014 Lok Sabha election ===
{{further|List of Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidates in the 2014 Indian general election}}
Nine CPI(M) candidates were elected in the [[2014 Indian general election]], as well as two CPI(M)-supported independents.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} 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 5 years which is consistent with the overall decline of the left in India.<ref>{{cite report |title=Archive of GE 2009 – Performance of National Parties |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2009/Stats/VOLI/12_PerformanceOfNationalParties.pdf |volume=1 |year=2009 |work=Election Commission of India |access-date=16 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209173959/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2009/Stats/VOLI/12_PerformanceOfNationalParties.pdf |archive-date=9 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |title=Archive of GE 2014 – Performance of National Parties |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2014/20%20-%20Performance%20of%20National%20Parties.pdf |year=2014 |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date=16 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215073314/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/archiveofge2014/20%20-%20Performance%20of%20National%20Parties.pdf |archive-date=15 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=May 2019}} 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 by [[Mamata Banerjee]] governed [[All India Trinamool Congress|AITC]]. 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. {{citation needed|date=May 2019}} 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 veteran [[O. Rajagopal]] wins the Nemom seat and CPI(M)'s [[Pinarayi Vijayan]] forming the LDF-ruled government.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
 
=== 2019 general election ===
The CPI(M) contested 65 seats nationwide and won three in the [[2019 Indian general election|2019 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/west-bengal/all-but-one-left-front-candidates-lose-security-deposit-in-west-bengal/articleshow/69481742.cms?from=mdr |title=All but one Left Front candidates lose security deposit in West Bengal |newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref>
 
== List of Chief Ministers from CPI(M) ==
[[File:Manik Sarkar.jpg|thumb|Longest serving [[Chief Minister of Tripura]], [[Manik Sarkar]]]]
{{main|List of chief ministers from the Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Key
| style="background:#FFE6E6;"| {{dagger|alt=Current Chief Minister of the State}}
| Denotes the person is the incumbent chief minister
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! {{abbr|No.|Number}}
! Name
! Portrait
! colspan="2" | Term of office
! Days in office
|-
! colspan="6" | [[List of chief ministers of Kerala|Kerala]]
|-
| 1
| [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]]
|[[File:E. M. S. Namboodiripad.jpg|80px|alt=A portrait of E.M.S. Namboodiripad]]
| 6 March 1967
| 1 November 1969
| 2 years 240 days
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2
| rowspan="3" | [[E. K. Nayanar]]
| rowspan="3" | [[File:Ek nayanar.jpeg|80px]]
| 25 January 1980
| 20 October 1981
| rowspan="3"|10 years 353 days
|-
|26 March 1987
|23 June 1991
|-
|20 May 1996
|16 May 2001
|-
| 3
| [[V. S. Achuthanandan]]
|[[File:Vs achutanandann.jpg|80px|A photograph of V.S. Achutanandan]]
| 18 May 2006
| 17 May 2011
| 4 years 364 days
|- scope="row" align="center" style="background:#FFE6E6;"
| rowspan="2"|4
| rowspan="2"| [[Pinarayi Vijayan]]
| rowspan="2"| [[File:Pinarayi Vijayan 1.jpg|80px]]
| 25 May 2016
| 20 May 2021
|rowspan=2|{{age in years and days|2016|5|25}}
|- scope="row" align="center" style="background:#FFE6E6;"
| 20 May 2021
| ''Incumbent''
|-
! colspan="6" | [[List of chief ministers of Tripura|Tripura]]
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1
| rowspan="2"| [[Nripen Chakraborty]]
| rowspan="2"|[[File:Nripen Chakraborty.jpg|80px]]
| 5 January 1978
| 4 February 1983
| rowspan="2"|10 years 31 days
|-
|5 February 1983
|5 February 1988
|-
| 2
| [[Dasarath Deb]]
|[[File:Dasarathdeb160*150.jpg|80px|]]
| 10 April 1993
| 11 March 1998
| 4 years, 335 days
|-
| rowspan="4"| 3
| rowspan="4"| [[Manik Sarkar]]
| rowspan="4"|[[File:Manik Sarkar.jpg|80px]]
| 11 March 1998
| 26 February 2003
| rowspan="4"|20 years
|-
|27 February 2003
|23 February 2008
|-
|24 February 2008
|14 February 2013
|-
|15 February 2013
|8 March 2018
|-
! colspan="6" | [[List of chief ministers of West Bengal|West Bengal]]
|-
| rowspan="5"| 1
| rowspan="5"| [[Jyoti Basu]]
| rowspan="5"|[[File:Jyoti Basu - Calcutta 1996-12-21 089 Cropped.png|80px]]
| 21 June 1977
| 23 May 1982
| rowspan="5"|23 years 127 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
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2
| rowspan="3"| [[Buddhadeb Bhattacharya]]
| rowspan="3"|[[File:BuddhoBabu.jpg|80px]]
| 6 November 2000
| 14 May 2001
| rowspan="3"|10 years 188 days
|-
|15 May 2001
|17 May 2006
|-
|18 May 2006
|13 May 2011
|-
|}
 
== List of Rajya Sabha members ==
{{main|List of Rajya Sabha members}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ List of Rajya Sabha members from Communist Party of India (Marxist)
! Name
! State
! Appointment date
! Retirement date
|-
|[[John Brittas]]
|[[Kerala]]
|{{dts|4 April 2021}}
|{{dts|23 April 2027}}
|-
|[[V. Sivadasan]]
|[[Kerala]]
|{{dts|24 April 2021}}
|{{dts|23 April 2027}}
|-
|'''[[Elamaram Kareem]]'''
|Kerala
|{{dts|2 July 2018}}
|{{dts|1 July 2024}}
|-
|[[K. Somaprasad]]
|Kerala
|{{dts|3 April 2016}}
|{{dts|2 April 2022}}
|-
|[[Jharna Das]]
|[[Tripura]]
|{{dts|3 April 2016}}
|{{dts|2 April 2022}}
|-
|[[Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya]]
|[[West Bengal]]
|{{dts|3 April 2020}}
|{{dts|2 April 2026}}
|-
|}
* '''Bold''' indicates CPI(M) leader in Rajya Sabha
 
== List of Lok Sabha members ==
{{main|List of members of the 17th Lok Sabha}}
{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Constituency
! State
|-
|[[A. M. Ariff]]
|[[Alappuzha (Lok Sabha constituency)|Alappuzha]]
|[[Kerala]]
|-
|[[P. R. Natarajan]]
|[[Coimbatore (Lok Sabha constituency)|Coimbatore]]
|[[Tamil Nadu]]
|-
|[[S. Venkatesan]]
|[[Madurai (Lok Sabha constituency)|Madurai]]
|[[Tamil Nadu]]
|-
|}
 
== Splits and offshoots ==
A large number of parties have been formed as a result of splits from the CPI(M), such as
* [[Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)]],
* [[Revolutionary Marxist Party of India]],
* [[Marxist Communist Party of India]],
* [[Marxist Coordination Committee]] in Jharkhand,
* [[Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy]] in [[Kerala]],
* [[Party of Democratic Socialism (India)|Party of Democratic Socialism]] in West Bengal,
* [[Janganotantrik Morcha]] in Tripura,
* [[Lok Sangharsh Morcha]] in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]],
* [[Odisha Communist Party]] in [[Odisha]],
* [[Communist Marxist Party]] (CMP) in Kerala.
 
== See also ==
{{Portal|India|Communism}}
* [[Politics of India]]
* [[List of political parties in India]]
* [[List of communist parties in India]]
* [[List of communist parties]]
* [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)]]
* [[Left Front (West Bengal)]]
* [[Left Front (Tripura)]]
 
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
 
== References ==
;Citations
{{reflist|30em}}
;Election reports
{{reflist|30em|group=e}}
 
== Sources ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Basu |first1=Jyoti |author-link=Jyoti Basu |title=Memoirs – A Political Autobiography |location=[[Calcutta]] |publisher=National Book Agency |year=1999 |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Basu |first1=Pradip |title=Towards Naxalbari (1953–1967) – An Account of Inner-Party Ideological Struggle |location=Calcutta |publisher=Progressive Publishers |year=2000 |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Bose |first1=Shanti Shekar |title=A Brief Note on the Contents of Documents of the Communist Movement in India |year=2005 |publisher=National Book Agency |location=Kolkata |language=en}}
* {{cite book |last1=Rao |first1=M.V.S. Koteswara |title=Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal |location=Hyderabad, India |publisher=Prajasakti Book House |year=2003 |language=en}}.
{{refend}}
 
== External links ==
{{Commons|Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
* {{Official}}
* {{Twitter|cpimspeak}}
* {{facebook|cpimcc}}
 
{{Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}
{{Indian political parties}}
{{Left Democratic Front (Kerala)}}
{{Authority control}}
 
{{West Bengal}}
 
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