Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Secretary-General	Prakash Karat
Leader in Lok Sabha	Basudev Acharia[1]
Leader in Rajya Sabha	Sitaram Yechury[1]
Founded	1964
Headquarters	New Delhi, India
Newspaper	People's Democracy
Student wing	Students Federation of India
Youth wing	Democratic Youth Federation of India
Women's wing	All India Democratic Womens Association
Labour wing	Centre of Indian Trade Unions
Peasant's wing	All India Kisan Sabha
Ideology	Communism Marxism-Leninism
ECI Status	Recognized National Party
Alliance	Left Front
Seats in Lok Sabha	16 / 545
Seats in Rajya Sabha	11 / 245
Election symbol
Website
cpim.org
Politics of India Political parties Elections

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (abbreviated CPI(M) or CPM) is a left-wing Marxist political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI(M) is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of India. The party emerged out of a split from the Communist Party of India in 1964. CPI(M) claimed to have 1,042,287 members in 2009.^[2] The CPI(M) strongly advocates anti-capitalism, anti-globalization and anti-imperialist sentiments, and has always upheld the principles of Marxist philosophy.

History[link]

Formation of CPI (M)[link]

CPI(M) emerged out of a division within the Communist Party of India (CPI). The undivided 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 favour 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.

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. 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).

Simultaneously, the relations between the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Communist Party of China soured. In the early 1960s the Communist Party of China began criticizing the CPSU of turning revisionist and of deviating from the path of Marxism-Leninism. Sino-Indian relations also deteriorated, as border disputes between the two countries erupted into the Sino-Indian war of 1962.

Communism in India

Communist Party of India AITUC - AIKS - AIYF AISF - NFIW - BKMU

Communist Party of India (Marxist) CITU - AIKS - DYFI SFI - AIDWA - GMP

Communist Ghadar Party of India Naxalbari uprising Communist Party of India (M-L) Liberation - New Democracy Janashakti - PCC - 2nd CC Red Flag - Class Struggle Communist Party of India (Maoist)

Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) AIUTUC - AIMSS AIDYO - AIDSO

M. N. Roy Abani Mukherji A. K. Gopalan P. Krishna Pillai P. C. Joshi P. Sundarayya Ajoy Ghosh K. Damodaran E. M. S. Namboodiripad Jagannath Sarkar Azhikodan Raghavan V. S. Achuthanandan E. K. Nayanar Guru Radha Kishan B. T. Ranadive Charu Majumdar Jyoti Basu S. A. Dange Shibdas Ghosh E. K. Imbichi Bava T. Nagi Reddy

Tebhaga movement CCOMPOSA Telangana Rebellion Comrades Association Communist Party of French India

Communism World Communist Movement

Communism Portal This box: view talk edit

During the war with China, a faction of the Indian Communists backed the position of the Indian government, while other sections of the party claimed that it was a conflict between a socialist and a capitalist state^{[citation needed]}. The basis of difference in opinion between the two factions in CPI was ideological - about the assessment of Indian scenario and the development of a party programme. This difference in opinion was also a reflection of a similar difference at international level on ideology between the Soviet and Chinese parties. The alleged 'right wing' inside the party followed the Soviet path and put forward the idea of joining hands with the then ruling party - Indian National Congress. Where as, the faction of CPI which later became CPI(M), referred this as a revisionist approach of class collaboration. 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).^[3]

Hundreds of CPI leaders, accused of being pro-Chinese, were imprisoned. Some of the nationalists were also imprisoned, as they used to express their opinion only in party forums, and CPI's official stance was pro-China. Thousands of Communists were detained without trial.^[4] Those targeted by the state accused the pro-Soviet leadership of the CPI of conspiring with the Congress government to ensure their own hegemony over the control of the party.

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. Dange represented the rightist faction of the party and E.M.S. the leftist faction.

At a CPI National Council meeting held on April 11, 1964, 32 Council members walked out in protest, accusing Dange and his followers of "anti-unity and anti-Communist policies".^[5]

The leftist section, to which the 32 National Council members belonged, organised a convention in Tenali, Andhra Pradesh July 7 to 11. 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.^[6]

Marking a difference from the Dangeite sector of CPI, the Tenali convention was marked by the display of a large portrait of the Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong.^[6]

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 criticised the draft programme proposal prepared by M. Basavapunniah for undermining class struggle and failing to take a clear pro-Chinese position in the ideological conflict between the CPSU and CPC.^[7]

After the Tenali convention the CPI left wing organised 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 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 by Azizul Haque, but Haque was initially banned from presenting it by the conference organisers. At the Calcutta Party District Conference 42 delegates opposed M. Basavapunniah’s official draft programme proposal.

At the Siliguri Party District Conference, the main draft proposal for a party programme 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.

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 other 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.^[8]

The Calcutta Congress was held between October 31 and November 7, at Tyagraja Hall in southern Calcutta. Simultaneously, the Dange group convened a Party Congress of CPI in Bombay. Thus, the CPI divided into two separate parties. The group which assembled in Calcutta would later adopt the name 'Communist Party of India (Marxist)', in order to differentiate themselves from the Dange group. The CPI(M) also adopted its own political programme. P. Sundarayya was elected general secretary of the party.

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.

At the Calcutta conference the party adopted a class analysis of the character of the Indian state, that claimed the Indian big bourgeoisie was increasingly collaborating with imperialism.^[9]

Parimal Das Gupta’s alternative draft programme 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 the portraits of other communist stalwarts. His intervention met with huge applauses from the delegates of the conference.^[9]

Name[link]

CPI(M) is officially known as भारत की कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी मार्क्सवादी(Bharat ki Kamyunist Party Marksvadi) in Hindi, but it is often known as मार्क्सवादी कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी (Marksvadi Kamyunist Party, abbreviated MaKaPa) in press and media circles. This name though has a very interesting story to tell. During its initial years after the split, the party was often referred 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 rightist in nature for their support to Congress-Nehru regime. During Kerala Legislative Assembly elections of 1965 the party has adopted the name 'Communist Party of India(Marxist)' in order to obtain its election symbol from the Election Commission of India.^[10]

Communist Party of India (Marxist)

AKG Bhavan, the CPI(M) national headquarters in Delhi 28°37′53.6″N 77°12′17.9″E / 28.631556°N 77.204972°E / 28.631556; 77.204972.

Campaign vehicle in Ernakulam.

Bengali mural for the CPI(M) candidate in the Kolkata North West constituency in the 2004 Lok Sabha election, Sudhangshu Seal.

Bengali mural for the CPI(M) candidate in the Kolkata North West constituency in the 2004 Lok Sabha election, Sudhangshu Seal.

18th CPI(M) West Bengal state conference mural.

Early years of CPI (M)[link]

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 December 29–30, over a thousand CPI (M) cadres were arrested, and held in jail without trial. 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. State-wide general strikes and hartals were observed on August 5, 1965, March 10–11, 1966 and April 6, 1966. The March 1966 general strike results in several deaths in confrontations with police forces.

Also in Kerala, mass arrests of CPI(M) cadres were carried out during 1965. In Bihar, the party called for a Bandh (general strike) in Patna on August 9, 1965 in protest against the Congress state government. During the strike, police resorted to violent actions against the organisers of the strike. The strike was followed by agitations in other parts of the state.

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.^[11]

The Central Committee of CPI(M) held its first meeting on June 12–19, 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.^[12] A CC meeting had been scheduled to have been held in Trichur during the last days of 1964, but had been cancelled 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 alliances with all non-reactionary opposition parties in West Bengal (i.e. all parties except Jan Sangh and Swatantra Party). This decision was strongly criticised 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, were it was decided that the party should only form alliances with selected left parties.^[13]

Naxalbari uprising[link]

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.^[14] 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.^[15] 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. Following the 1968 Burdwan plenum of CPI(M) (held on April 5–12, 1968), the AICCCR separated themselves from CPI(M). This split divided the party throughout the country. But notably in West Bengal, which was the centre of the violent radicalist stream, no prominent leading figure left the party. The party and the Naxalites (as the rebels were called) were soon to get into a bloody feud.

In Andhra Pradesh another revolt was taking place. There the pro-Naxalbari dissidents had not established any presence. But in the party organisation 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 June 15, 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.^[16] 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.^[17]

Dismissal of United Front governments in West Bengal and Kerala[link]

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. 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.

The 8th Party Congress of CPI(M) was held in Cochin, Kerala, on December 23–29, 1968. On December 25, 1968, whilst the congress was held, 42 Dalits were burned alive in the Tamil village of Kilavenmani. The massacre was a retaliation from landlords after Dalit labourers had taken part in a CPI(M)-led agitation for higher wages.^[18][19]

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 October 24.^[20] 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[link]

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.^[21] But with the active support of CPI and the Bangla Congress, Ajoy Mukherjee was returned as Chief Minister of the state. Mukherjee resigned on March 16, 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.

Formation of CITU[link]

2004 election mural for CPI(M) candidate Sujan Chakraborty in Jadavpur

Following the 1964 split, CPI(M) cadres had remained active with the All India Trade Union Congress. But as relations between CPI and CPI(M) soured, with the backdrop of confrontations in West Bengal and Kerala, a split also surfaced in the AITUC. In December 1969, eight CPI(M) members walked out of an AITUC Working Committee meeting. The eight called for an All India Trade Union Convention, which was held in Goa April 9–10, 1970. The convention decided that an All India Trade Union Conference be held on May 28–31 in Calcutta. The Calcutta conference would be the founding conference of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, a new pro-CPI(M) trade union movement.^[22]

Outbreak of war in East Pakistan[link]

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 Bangladeshi resistance. Millions of Bangladeshi refugees sought shelter in India, especially in West Bengal.

At the time the radical sections of the Bangladeshi communist movement was divided into many factions. Whilst the pro-Soviet Communist Party of Bangladesh actively participated in the resistance struggle, 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 coordinate 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.^[23]

Political ideology and stances[link]

This section requires expansion.

According to its Constitution, the party operates on the principle of democratic centralism, its highest authority being the quadrennial National Convention. Article VI, Section 3 of the 2001 Constitution lays out certain positions as non-negotiable:

"revolutionary vanguard of the working class of India. Its aim is socialism and communism through the establishment of the state of dictatorship of the proletariat. In all its activities the Party is guided by the philosophy and principles of Marxism-Leninism which shows to the toiling masses the correct way to the ending of exploitation of man by man, their complete emancipation. The Party keeps high the banner of proletarian internationalism".^[24]

The party basically known for its Anti-globalization and Anti-capitalism stance.

Party organization[link]

CPI(M) got 5.66% of votes polled in last parliamentary election (May 2004) and it has 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.^[25]

In West Bengal and Tripura it participates in the Left Front. In Kerala the party is part of the Left Democratic Front. In Tamil Nadu it was part of the ruling Democratic Progressive Alliance led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). However, it has since withdrawn support.

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.^[26]

The structure [link]

1. The Politburo (PB)
2. The Central Committee (CC)
3. State Committees
4. District Committees

Membership[link]

CPI(M) 18th Congress rally in Delhi

CPI(M) rally in Agartala

A tableaux in a CPI(M) rally in Kerala, India showing two farmers forming the hammer and sickle, the most famous communist symbol.

Leadership[link]

CPI(M) leaders at the 18th party congress

Harkishan Singh Surjeet and Jyoti Basu

The current general secretary of CPI(M) is Prakash Karat. The 19th party congress of CPI(M), held in Coimbatore March 29-April 3, 2008 elected a Central Committee with 87 members. The Central Committee later elected a 15-member Politburo:

• Prakash Karat
• Sitaram Yechury
• S. Ramachandran Pillai
• Buddhadeb Bhattacharya
• Manik Sarkar
• M.K. Pandhe
• Biman Bose
• Pinarayi Vijayan
• K. Varadarajan
• B.V. Raghavulu
• Brinda Karat
• Nirupam Sen
• Kodiyeri Balakrishnan
• Mohammad Amin

The senior most member, V.S. Achuthanandan was removed from the Polit Bureau on July 12, 2009.

The 19th congress saw the departure of the last two members of the Polit Bureau who had been on the original Polit Bureau in 1964, Harkishen Singh Surjeet and Jyoti Basu.^[28]

State Committee secretaries[link]

• Andaman & Nicobar: K.G. Das
• Andhra Pradesh: B.V. Raghavulu
• Assam: Uddhab Barman
• Bihar: Vijaykant Thakur
• Chattisgarh: M.K. Nandi
• Delhi: P.M.S. Grewal
• Goa: Thaelman Perera
• Haryana: Inderjit Singh
• Jharkhand: J.S. Majumdar
• Karnataka: G.V.Shree Ram Reddy
• Kerala : Pinarayi Vijayan
• Madhya Pradesh: Badal Saroj
• Maharashtra: Ashok Dhawale
• Orissa: Janardan Pati
• Punjab: Charan Singh Virdi(Acting)
• Rajasthan: Vasudev Sharma
• Sikkim: Balram Adhikari
• Tamil Nadu: G.Ramakrishnan
• Tripura: Bijan Dhar
• Uttaranchal: Vijai Rawat
• Uttar Pradesh: S.P. Kashyap
• West Bengal: Biman Bose
• Himachal Pradesh: Rakesh Singha^[29]

The principal mass organizations of CPI(M)[link]

• Democratic Youth Federation of India
• Students Federation of India
• Centre of Indian Trade Unions class organisation
• All India Kisan Sabha peasants' organization
• All India Agricultural Workers Union
• All India Democratic Women's Association
• Bank Employees Federation of India
• All India Lawyers Union

In Tripura, the Ganamukti Parishad is a major mass organization amongst the tribal peoples of the state. In Kerala the Adivasi Kshema Samithi, a tribal organisation is controlled by CPI(M).

State governments[link]

As of 2011, CPI(M) heads the state government in Tripura. Manik Sarkar is a chief minister belonging to the party. In Tripura, the party has a majority of its own in the state assemblies, but governs together with Left Front partners.

Splits and offshoots[link]

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), Marxist Communist Party of India, Marxist Coordination Committee in Jharkhand, Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy, Communist Marxist Party and BTR-EMS-AKG Janakeeya Vedi in Kerala, Party of Democratic Socialism in West Bengal, Janganotantrik Morcha in Tripura, the Ram Pasla group in Punjab, Orissa Communist Party in Orissa, etc.

Elections[link]

Lok-Sabha Elections[link]

1967 General Election[link]

In the 1967 Lok Sabha elections 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 nation-wide vote. In the state legistative 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.^[30] In West Bengal, CPI(M) was the main force behind the 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[link]

Martyrs Column in Haripad, Kerala

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. 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 Trichur), 2 from Tripura (Biren Dutta and Dasarath Deb) and 1 from Andhra Pradesh.^[31]

In the same year, state legislative elections were held in three states; West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Orissa. In West Bengal CPI(M) had 241 candidates, winning 113 seats. In total the party mustered 4241557 votes (32.86% of the state-wide vote). In Tamil Nadu CPI(M) contested 37 seats, but drew blank. The party got 259298 votes (1.65% of the state-wide vote). In Orissa the party contested 11 seats, and won in two. The CPI(M) vote in the state was 52785 (1.2% of the state-wide vote).^[32]

1977 General Elections[link]

In the 1977 Loksabha elections the CPM had fielded its candidates on 53 seats scattred around in 14 states and union terretories 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 Orrissa and Punjab. This election was done shortly after the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi and reflected a wide uproar of masses against her draconian rule. An 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.^[33]

1980 General Elections[link]

Janta Party coalition didnot last much and two years after since its formation India had faced the 1980s Loksabha Elections. This election had saw an increase in the vote percentage of CPI(M) and the party had bagged more seats then the previous elections. The Party had contested elections in the 15 states and union terretories 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.^[34]

State Assembly Elections[link]

1970s, 1980s, 1990s[link]

This section requires expansion.

In the 1977 election, the CPI(M) gained the majority in the Legislative Assembly of the State of West Bengal, defeating the Congress (I). Jyoti Basu became the chief minister of West Bengal, an office he held until his retirement in 2000. The CPI(M) held the majority in the West Bengal government continuously since 1977, which ended in 2011 election.The party also won in Tripura winning 49 of the 60 seats. It has 3 MLAs in Rajasthan assembly. In Bihar it has an alliance with CPI(ML)L and CPI, it has 1 seat in Andhra Pradesh.In Tamil Nadu it has worked for Dalit causes. Now last assembly election held in Tamil Nadu it wons 10 seats out of 12.

Presidential Elections[link]

2002 Presidential Elections[link]

In the 2002 Presidential elections, Left Front has announced Captain Lakshmi Sehgal as their Presidential Candidate. Against her was the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's Candidate APJ Abdul Kalam.^[35] CPIM'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 cant 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.^[36] 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 a lot under the National Democratic Alliance's leadership.^[37]
Captain Lakshmi Sehgal was an Indian Freedom Fighter, who had served as a Commander in the Indian National Army of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

2011 Assembly Elections[link]

This section requires expansion.

The CPI(M) led coalitions lost the assembly elections in Kerala and West Bengal. In Kerala, CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front coalition with 68 seats lost to Indian National Congress led United Democratic Front's 72 seats in a neck to neck fought assembly elections. In West Bengal, CPI(M) alliance with 62 seats suffered a setback after 34 years of continuous rule, losing to Trinamool Congress alliance's 226 seats. Its Chief Minister candidate who is also an incumbent Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee also lost from his Jadavpur assembly constituency.^[38]

CPI(M) leader and former Chief Minister of Kerala, V.S. Achuthanandan has stated in a TV interview that Bengal defeat was "because of the deviation from party policies and because of its anti-peasant line. Though party tried to correct the mistakes, is not effective enough prevent the downturn." Former CPI(M) leader and prominent economist Ashok Mitra pointed out that the reason why Left Front got defeated in West Bengal is, among other things, the present state leaders deviated from communist policies and principles.^[39] There is a criticism that Budhadeb and Nirupam Sen were working as Corporate agents and was influenced by Neo-Liberal policies. CAG had earlier stated in its report that by allocating land to TATA at a subsidized rate, West Bengal govt incurred losses to the public exchequer. Former minister and CPI(M) leader Abdur Rezzak Mollah, blamed politburo members Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Nirupam Sen for the Left Front debacle in the Bengal assembly elections.^[40] Wikileaks documents published in "The Hindu" newspaper reveals that Budhadeb had assured US Diplomats that, if CPI(M) refused to approve neo-liberal policies, the party should perish.^[41] According to media reports Budhadeb rarely attended Polit Bureau meetings, and he had spent more time discussing with Manmohan Singh and Corporate lobbies than with his own party leaders.

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Communist Party of India (Marxist)

• Communist Ghadar Party of India
• List of political parties in India
• Politics of India
• List of Communist Parties
• Election Results of Communist Party of India (Marxist)
• Co-ordinating Committee of Communist Parties in Britain
• List of Communist Parties in India

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Search For Ways To Keep Marx Alive Opinion on party structure by Sumanta Sen. The Telegraph Calcutta, India. March 31, 2005. Accessed April 1, 2005.
• Veteran Communists Honoured News article on Party history conference. The Hindu. April 6, 2005. Accessed April 8, 2005.
• All you wanted to know about CPI-M News article on CPI-M. Rediff News. April 8, 2005. Accessed April 8, 2005.
• An Upbeat Left by Venkitesh Ramakrishnan. Frontline Volume 22 - Issue 09, April 23 - May 6, 2005

External links[link]

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Pinarayi Vijayan
Secretary, CPI(M) Kerala State Committee Member of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau
Personal details
Born	(1944-03-21) March 21, 1944 (age 68) Pinarayi, Kannur district
Political party	CPI(M)
Spouse(s)	Kamala
Children	One son and one daughter
Residence	Pinarayi, Kerala

Pinarayi Vijayan (Malayalam: പിണറായി വിജയൻ) is a politician and a former minister of Kerala, South India. He is currently a politburo member and the state secretary of Kerala State Committee of Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)).

Early life[link]

He was born on 21 March 1944 in a poor family in Pinarayi in Kannur district.^[1] He is married to Kamala and has two children, Veena & Vivek.

Political career[link]

Pinarayi Vijayan entered politics through student union activities and eventually joined the Communist Party in 1964. He was president and secretary of the Kerala Student's Federation (KSF) and also served as the president of Kerala State Youth Federation (KSYF). During that period, when communists in Kerala were organising the political activities from different hide-outs, Pinarayi Vijayan was imprisoned for one and half years .Later he was elected the president of the Kerala state co-operative bank. And during emergency he was arrested and tortured by police. He got elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1970. He was re-elected in 1977, 1991 and 1996. He was the Minister for Electric power and Co-operatives in the E.K. Nayanar ministry from 1996 to 1998. In 1998 he became CPI(M) state secretary. He was elected to the politburo of CPI(M) in 2002.

Suspension[link]

On May 26, 2007 the CPI(M) suspended Pinarayi Vijayan and V. S. Achuthanandan from the politburo for their public remarks on each other. The central committee has approved the politburo's decision to suspend them. It concluded that open criticism against each other aired by the two leaders had "violated the norms of the party". Pinarai was reinstated as members of the Politburo later.^[2]

Positions held[link]

• Was the state president and secretary of Kerala Student's Federation and president of Kerala State Youth Federation (KSYF).
• Served as president of Kerala State Co-operat
• Elected to Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1970, 1977, 1991 and 1996.
• Served as minister in Kerala government between 1996 and 1998.
• Secretary of the Kerala state committee of the CPI(M) since 1998.
• Member of the CPI(M) politburo from 2002.

Controversies[link]

• The SNC Lavalin controversy in Kerala is a major allegation that rocked Kerala politics. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India report said that the deal Vijayan had struck as electricity minister in 1998 with Lavalin, a Canadian firm, for the repair of three generators, was a huge fraud and had cost the state exchequer a staggering Rs 3.76 billion. On 16 January 2007, Kerala High Court ordered a CBI enquiry into the SNC Lavalin case.^[3] On 21 January 2009, CBI filed a progress report on the investigation in the Kerala high court. Pinarayi Vijayan has been named as the 9th accused in the case.^[4][5] CPM backed Pinarayi saying that the CBI move was "politically motivated".However, there has been no evidence of any personal financial gain to him on account of the contract given.^[6][7][8] The CPM led Kerala Government decided not to let Vijayan to be prosecuted in the case.^[9] Overruling the cabinet recommendation, the Governeor allowed CBI to prosecute Vijayan based on prima facie evidence.^[10][11] Though CPI(M) called Governor's move un-constitutional, Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said there is nothing surprising or wrong in Governor's decision.^{[12][13][14][15]} With Kerala Governor's recommendation to prosecute Vijayan in the SNS Lavalin case, he became the first Politburo member in the CPI(M) history to be prosecuted in a corruption case.^[16]

• On February 16, 2007 the air port security in Chennai Airport recovered five bullets from Vijayan's baggage. The Chennai airport security had let him off after receiving a faxed copy of his license.^[17]

• The stand-off between the CPI(M) and the Catholic Church in Kerala took another nasty turn with CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan demanding that the church withdraw a controversial pastoral letter issued recently.The letter had recommended a "liberation struggle" on the lines of the one in the 1950s to liberate the education sector in Kerala from state control, so that the management can charge fees and capitation without government intervene.^[18]

• On 16 October 2007, Pinarayi had called Paul Chitilapally, the bishop of Thamarassery in Kerala, as a "wretched creature" for his lie. He was speaking in a memorial remembrance of Mathai Chacko, MLA from Thamarassery and a CPM member.He said “A lie is a lie, and just because it is uttered by a bishop it does not become a holy lie” . Later, the Roman Catholic Church in Kerala is up in arms against the CPM leadership as his comments against the bishop. However, he repeated the wordings and stick with the comments he had mentioned. This made a heated discussion among the Catholic community across the state and has protested against his speech by closing all educational institutions and churches.^[19][20]

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pinarayi Vijayan

This article may be confusing or unclear to readers. Please help clarify the article; suggestions may be found on the talk page. (August 2011)

V.S. Achuthanandan
V.S. Achuthanandan speaking in a public meeting in 2008.
Leader of the Opposition
Constituency	Malampuzha
Personal details
Born	(1923-10-20) 20 October 1923 (age 88) Alappuzha, Travancore
Political party	Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Spouse(s)	K. Vasumathy (Married 18 July 1967)
Children	V. A. Arunkumar Dr. V. V. Asha
Religion	Atheist

Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan (Malayalam: വേലിക്കകത്ത് ശങ്കരന്‍ അച്യുതാനന്ദന്‍; born 20 October 1923) is an Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of the state of Kerala. He had been a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) since 1985, and until July 2009, when he was reverted to the Central Committee of the party owing to his ideological dispositions.^[1]

Achuthanandan was one of the founding leaders of the CPI (M) in India, and has played a major role in building the party cadre in the state of Kerala.^[2]

Achuthanandan was widely acclaimed for the various actions that he initiated as the Chief Minister including: the demolition drive in Munnar which claimed back acres of illegally occupied land,^[3] the demolition drive in Kochi M. G. Road which claimed back the long lost shoulder of the road, anti-piracy drive against film-piracy, his struggle against the Lottery mafia in the state. In his struggle against corruption, he was instrumental in convicting former minister R. Balakrishna Pillai on charges of corruption.^[4][5] Achuthanandan also took the lead in promoting Free Software in the state, and especially in adopting free software in the public education system of the state.^[6]

Early life[link]

Born on 20 October 1923 to Sankaran and Accamma in Alappuzha district of Kerala state, Achuthanandan had to face many hurdles from a very early age. He was born into an Ezhava family. He lost his mother when he was four years old and subsequently lost his father at age 11. This forced him to quit his studies after finishing 8th standard in school. He started working by helping his elder brother in a village tailoring shop. Later he took up the job of meshing coir to make ropes at a coir factory.^[7][8]

Political life[link]

He entered politics through trade union activities and joined State Congress in 1938. In 1940, he became a member of the Communist Party of India (CPI). During his 40 years as a politician he was imprisoned for five years and six months and was in hiding for four and half years. He was a state secretariat member of the CPI in 1957. During the Sino-Indian war in 1962, he was with the nationalists in the party, supporting Indian side. EMS announced in Thalassery that disciplinary action is taken against V.S Achuthanandan along with O.V.Joseph (secretariat members) who were involved in factional activities. He was demoted in the party rank when he participated in a blood donation camp to help Indian soldiers.^[9] He is the only living Keralite among the 32 members who left the CPI National Council in 1964 to form the CPI(M). He was Secretary of the Kerala State Committee between 1980 and 1992. Since 1985 he is the member of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau until he was removed as a party disciplinary action. He is the senior most leader of CPI(M) in Kerala.

Suspension[link]

On 26 May 2007, the CPI(M) along with Pinarayi Vijayan, state secretary of CPI(M), from the Politburo for their public remarks on each other. The central committee has approved the Politburo's decision to suspend them. Later the central committee revoked the suspension of VS. Further, on 11 July 9, he was removed from Politburo as a corrective measure against his public speeches considered to be against the party line that Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan is innocent in SNC Lavalin corruption case, which the party saw as disobedience to the party. He was allowed to continue to serve as Chief Minister.^[10][11]

Leadership[link]

Achuthanandan has served many positions in his long political career. He was the Kerala State Secretary of the CPI(M) between 1980 and 1992 and he became a member of the Politburo in 1985. He has also been active in parliamentary politics; he was elected as a member of Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1967, 1970, 1991, 2001 and 2006. He was the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 1992 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2006. He was the editor of CPI(M) mouth piece in Malayalam, Deshabhimani daily.

2006 Assembly Elections/Removal from PB in July 2009[link]

During the assembly elections held in Kerala in April–May 2006, VS Achuthanandan defeated Satheesan Pacheeni of the United Democratic Front by a margin of 20,017 votes in Malampuzha constituency in Palakkad district.On 12 July the CPM Polit bureau and Central Committee removed him from the PB for his stands taken in relation to the accusation and legal procedures against Pinarayi Vijayan in his reported involvement in the Lavlin bribery.

2011 Assembly election[link]

Denial of seat[link]

The CPI(M) denied seat to Achuthanandan, for the 2011 assembly election. Protests took place across the state and even on social networking sites such as Twitter, facebook and via SMS.^[12]

In what can be considered as a near repeat of the 2006 pre-election build-up, the Politbureau of CPI-M impressed upon the state leadership to permit VS Achuthanandan to contest elections for the April 2011 Assembly election in Kerala^[13] VS Achuthanandan contested from the Malampuzha Constituency and won with a margin of around 25K votes. It was the VS factor that had created history in the 2011 elections with the Opposition front UDF winning the elections on the margin of 72–68 assembly seats. This is considered as loss for UDF as they had victory in 100 constituencies during the 2009 Lok Sabha Election. After this election VS has been considered the man behind the Uprising of LDF after the 2009 Parliament and 2010 Municipal election loses.^[14]

The elections[link]

After decades of a consistent pattern of swing between two coalition in the state elections, where people voted against the incumbent government consistently, Achuthanandan boast of a government with a no anti-incumbency factor ending in a 68–72 tally in the 140 seat state Assembly elections.

Major achievements[link]

• Initiated action against encroachment on government land in the hill resort and tea plantation town of Munnar.^[15][16]
• On 30 December 2007, he became the first Communist CM to trail to the 4000-year-old hill temple of Sabarimala. The 84-year-old Achuthanandan rejected any sort of physical or medical support as he worried doctors^[17]
• V S Achuthanandan supports free and open source software movement in the state and Richard Stallman has also supported his activities regarding this.^[18]

Issues[link]

Controversies[link]

• During the 2006 Assembly Elections, the party had to revert its decision of not to field Achuthanandan as a candidate. This was in reaction to organised protest marches by CPI(M) sympathisers across the state.

• He initiated the Munnar eviction mission. Massive portions of land allegedly grabbed over the years by resort owners and multinational companies like Tata Tea Limited. Later, the demolition team landed in the city of Kochi, and other cities in Kerala and recovered huge parts of land and subsequently. Unfortunately, the mission had failed and even the team which led it was orphaned. The District Collector, Inspector General of Police and the Person in charge had been replaced. As the opponents’ claim, this may cause to have lost some credibility of the government. Meanwhile, Achuthanandan said that the Munnar mission would continue vigorously and extended to other areas^[19][20][21]

• Being the chief minister of the state, he has to frequently face struggle with Pinarayi Vijayan, the powerful head of the party which leads the ruling coalition. Both of them are heading for showdowns, which often lacking Achuthanandan to take strong decisions. This power struggle often turned worse as both attacking each other. As a result, this group fights created two set of party leaders and even the ministers in the government, the name called VS groups and Pinarayi groups.^[22][23]

• In a statement he called M.A. Pharis, a businessman in Kerala as a ‘hated man’ as the latter’s alleged involvement with the kidney racket in Singapore.

• During the CPM state conference held in Kottayam, he has been criticized strongly due to his style of functioning by a majority of Pinarayi Vijayan supporters (38/53) known as official faction and they demanded his ouster from Chief Minister. They warned that the party would lose seats if it goes for ahead parliamentary elections under his leadership.^[24][25]

• Achuthanandan was criticized for his allegedly insensitive comments in response to the abusive language used by slain NSG commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's father. Chief Minister was criticized for his delay in condoling the family. When the Chief Minister visited the family of slain soldier against the wishes of Sandeep's father, he shouted at Achuthanandan and abused him on live television, stating "no dog should enter my house", and asked him to leave. Later, to the question from media persons: "How would you react to Sandeep Unnikrishnan's father's statement?" he replied "If Sandeep were not an army person who sacrificed for a nation's cause, not even a dog would enter. Would they? A father of such a distinguished army man should be aware of it . Is there any rule that both the Karnataka Chief Minister and Kerala Chief Minister should go together to his (Sandeep's) home? If not for Sandeep's house, not even a dog would have gone there."(translated to English from his reply in Malayalam).^[26][27][28]

Criticism[link]

The crop destruction drive[link]

The anti-reclamation stir launched by the Kerala State Karshaka Thozhilali Union (KSKTU) at Mankompu in 1996–97, under the leadership of Achuthanandan created much controversy. This stir was claimed to be highlighting the serious problem of the massive conversion of paddy fields into other type of land, affecting the food security of the Kerala. But this soon developed into a crop destruction drive. The protest got the sobriquet following the violent methods and crop destruction resorted to by the KSKTU cadre. The stir attracted lot of public attention and Achuthanandan was forced to express his disapproval of any destruction of crops. 15 Years later, in November 2011, a UDF Minister, who is politically opposed to Achuthanadan, justified this struggle.^[29] JanataDal Socialist leader and minister for Agriculture, K.P. Mohananan, said, such a struggle was necessary as Conversion of Paddy fields to other type of crops is a serious concern.

Allegations of misuse Of power[link]

V. A. Arun Kumar, son of V. S. Achuthanandan, was appointed as Additional Director for the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD), a state owned organization controlling a handful of state owned engineering colleges, technical schools and other institutions. This appointment is alleged to be irregular.^{[30][31][32][33]} The post in question is equivalent to that of a Pro-Vice-Cancellor for an institution that controls several state owned Engineering colleges. And hence the post should be filled by a person possessing at least a PhD and Masters in Engineering while the appointed V. A. Arun Kumar possesses only an undergraduate degree and that too in a non-science faculty. It is been alleged that changes were made in the notification for appointing Mr. Arun Kumar and the existing qualifications of additional director were amended to enable V. A. Arun Kumar to apply for the post.^[30] This issue in now facing a Lokayuktha enquiry as well as a Vigilance^[34][35] enquiry. Also his son was nominated for the post of the director of ICST which is now facing a Assembly Committee enquiry. He is facing yet another Lokayuktha enquiry regarding allegations related to the Model Finishing School of (IHRD).^[36]

In popular culture[link]

• In the Malayalam film 15 August, the character of Chief Minister of Kerala played by actor Nedumudi Venu was inspired by the political life of V. S. Achuthanandan.

• Thilakan portrayed the role of Chief Minister, which had close resemblance with V.S.Achuthanandan, in the film Ayudham

See also[link]

• List of Chief Ministers of Kerala

References[link]

• The official website of the Chief Minister of Kerala

Further read[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: V. S. Achuthanandan

• Indianetzone news about V S Achuthanandan
• Financial Express news, Kerala takes the fizz out of Coke & Pepsi
• Tehelka News
• comradevs.com, A webpage designed for V S Achuthanandan
• An interview with VS Tehelka
• Has the son put the father In the dock? From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 8, Issue 11, Dated 19 Mar 2011