Communist Party of India (Marxist), Kerala
SecretaryM. V. Govindan
Headquarters"A. K. G. Bhawan", Thiruvananthapuram
Student wingStudents Federation (SFI Kerala)
Youth wingDemocratic Youth Federation (DYFI Kerala)
Women's wingDemocratic Women's Association (AIDWA Kerala)
Labour wingCentre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)
Membership5,27,174 (2021)
IdeologyCommunism
Political positionLeft-wing[1]
Alliance
Seats in Lok Sabha
1 / 20
(Kerala)
Seats in Rajya Sabha
4 / 9
(Kerala)
Seats in Kerala Legislative Assembly
62 / 140
Election symbol
Party flag
Website
cpimkerala.org

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Kerala or CPI(M) Kerala is the Kerala state wing of CPIM. It is responsible for organizing and coordinating the party's activities and campaigns within the state, as well as selecting candidates for local, state, and national elections. Currently, it is the governing party in the Kerala Legislative Assembly and has significant representation of the state in Rajya Sabha.[2] The CPIM currently leads the LDF alliance.

History

Background

In July 1937, clandestine meeting held at Calicut.[3] Five persons were present at the meeting, P. Krishna Pillai, K. Damodaran, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, N. C. Sekhar and S.V. Ghate. The first four were members of the Congress Socialist Party (CSP) in Kerala. The Communist Party of India in Kerala was formed on 31 December 1939 with the Pinarayi Conference.[4]

In 1946, Punnapra-Vayalar uprising was a mass communist movement against C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, the Diwan (Head) of Travancore in Alappuzha. The revolt was due to over 21,000 peasants died in Cherthala taluk alone during the Famine (1939–43). This led to a war between the Travancore police and people. Over 400 people were killed. After the killings, many people around the areas turned into communists.[5]

In 1957 Kerala Assembly election the Communist Party of India (CPI) was elected to rule the state government of Kerala under E. M. S. Namboodiripad only to have the government dismissed and President's Rule declared in 1959 following the Vimochana Samaram. In 1964, in conjunction with the widening rift between China and the Soviet Union, a large leftist faction of the CPI leadership, based predominantly in Kerala and West Bengal, split from the party to form the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI (M). In Kerala, the CPI (M) in coalition with other parties wrested control from the Congress and its allies (frequently including the CPI) in 1967, in 1980, and in 1987. Support for the CPI (M) in Kerala in general elections has ranged from 19 percent to 26 percent, but the party has never won more than nine of Kerala's twenty seats in Parliament.

Formation of CPI(M) in Kerala

A. K. Gopalan (left) and E.M.S. Namboodiripad (right) with other CPI(M) leaders in Kolkata, 1966.

After the CPI split in 1964, prominent communist leader in Kerala E.M.S. Namboodiripad, A. K. Gopalan and K. R. Gouri Amma stood with the Communist Party of India (Marxist). One year after the split, in the 1965 elections CPI(M) which was splinter faction of CPI, emerged as the largest party in the assembly with 40 seats. Where CPI settled with 3 seats only. However no single party could form a ministry commanding majority and hence this election is considered abortive. President's rule was invoked for the fourth time.[6][7]

In the 1967 Kerala assembly election both communist parties - CPI (M) and CPI - along with smaller parties including SSP and Muslim League contested this election as a United Front. A total of seven parties contested in the front, and the front was known as Saptakakshi Munnani.[8] The CPI(M) led front won the election with a record 113 seats out of 133 seats and formed the government under E.M.S. Namboodiripad.[9] After 2 years of the government, due to continous problems between CPI and CPI(M) many ministers from the smaller parties resigned eventually, and many parties subsequently left the front owing to the loss of majority the Second Namboodiripad ministry was disolved in 1969.[10]

Emergency rule in Kerala

During the emergency rule, when communists in Kerala were organising the political activities from different hide-outs, many CPI(M) members and leaders including current chief minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan was imprisoned for one and a half years. He was arrested and tortured by police.[11] After his release, Pinarayi Vijayan reached the Kerala Legislative Assembly and made an impassionate speech against senior Congress leader K. Karunakaran holding up the blood-stained shirt he wore when in police custody, causing serious embarrassment to the then C. Achutha Menon government.[12] Hundreds of Communists, whether from the CPI(M), other Marxist parties, or the Naxalites, were arrested during the Emergency.[13] Some were tortured or, as in the case of the Kerala student P. Rajan, killed.[14][15]

Formation of Left Democratic Front alliance

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, two main pre-poll political alliances were formed: the 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.[16]

Nayanar Era (1980 - 2001)

E. K. Nayanar in 1998.

Since the formation of the alliance in 1980, E. K. Nayanar has led the party and alliance for two decades and has also became the longest-served Chief Minister of Kerala.[17] The CPI(M) led alliance has won every alternate election in 1980 election, 1987 election and 1996 election since the formation led by Nayanar.[18] In this period Kerala saw several progressive reforms, especially in the Land Reforms and Labour Welfare sectors. The Kerala Coir workers Welfare Fund Act, 1987, The Kerala Khadi Workers’ Welfare Fund Act, 1989, The Kerala Abkari Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1989, The Kerala Construction workers’ Welfare Fund Act, 1989 and the Kerala Ration Dealer’s Welfare Fund Act 1998.[19]

Timeline

Structure and composition

A. K. Gopalan, one of the founding members of Communist Party of India (Marxist) from Kerala
Pinarayi Vijayan, longest serving state secretary and current chief minister of Kerala
M. V. Govindan, current State Secretary of CPI(M)

List of state secretaries of CPI(M) Kerala

No. Secretary Term Total Years as secretary
1 C.H. Kanaran 1964–1972 8 Years
2 E. K. Nayanar 1972–1980 8 Years
3 V. S. Achuthanandan 1980–1992 12 Years
4 E. K. Nayanar 1992–1996 4 Years
5 Chadayan Govindan 1996-1998 2 Years
6 Pinarayi Vijayan 25 September 1998 – 23 February 2015 17 Years
7 Kodiyeri Balakrishnan 23 February 2015 – 28 August 2022 7 Years
8 M. V. Govindan 31 August 2022–present Incumbent

List of Polit Bureau members from CPI(M) Kerala

No. Name Period
1 E. M. S. Namboodiripad 1964 - 1998
2 A. K. Gopalan 1964 - 1977
3 E. Balanandan 1978 - 2005
4 V. S. Achuthanandan 1986 - 2009
5 E. K. Nayanar 1992 - 2004
6 S. Ramachandran Pillai 1992 - 2022
7 Pinarayi Vijayan 1998–present
8 Kodiyeri Balakrishnan 2008 - 2022
9 M. A. Baby 2012–present
10 M. V. Govindan 2022–present
11 A. Vijayaraghavan 2022–present

Current State Secretariat Leaders

Source:[32]

No. Leader's name Born (Age)
1 Pinarayi Vijayan 24 May 1945
2 A. K. Balan 3 August 1948
3 P. K. Sreemathy 4 April 1949
4 E. P. Jayarajan 28 May 1950
5 T. P. Ramakrishnan 15 June 1950
6 T. M. Thomas Isaac 26 September 1952
7 M. V. Govindan 23 April 1953
8 V. N. Vasavan 3 March 1954
9 K. N. Balagopal 28 July 1963
10 Saji Cherian 28 May 1965
11 P. Rajeeve 13 May 1968
12 P. K. Biju 3 April 1974
13 P. A. Mohammed Riyas 18 May 1976
14 M. Swaraj 27 May 1979

Principal mass organisations

No. Organisation Name Association for President
1 Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) Youth V. Vaseef
2 Students' Federation of India (SFI) Students P. M. Arsho
3 Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Trade union Anathalavattom Anandan
4 All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) Women P. K. Sreemathy
5 Balasangam Children B. Anuja
6 Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) Bank C. J. Nandakumar
7 Adivasi Kshema Samithi (AKS) Tribal K. C. Kunhiraman

List of Chief Ministers from CPI(M)

Portrait Name
Ministry (Year)
Length of term
Longest continuous term Total years of premiership
1 E. M. S. Namboodiripad
1st Namboodiripad
(1957–1959)

2nd Namboodiripad
(1967–1969)
2 years, 240 days 4 years 357 days
2 E. K. Nayanar
1st Nayanar
(1980–1981)

2nd Nayanar
(1987–1991)

3rd Nayanar
(1996–2001)
5 years, 27 days 11 years, 10 days
3 V. S. Achuthanandan
Achuthanandan
(2006–2011)
4 years, 364 days 4 years, 364 days
4 Pinarayi Vijayan
1st Pinarayi
(2016–2021)

2nd Pinarayi
(2021–present)
7 years, 233 days 7 years, 233 days

Results in Kerala elections

Kerala Assembly Election Results
Year Party leader Overall votes  % of overall votes Total seats seats won/
seats contensted
Change
in seats
Outcome
As Communist Party of India
1957 E. M. S. Namboodiripad 2,059,547 35.28% 126
60 / 101
Increase new Government
1960 3,171,732 39.14% 126
29 / 108
Decrease 20 Opposition
As Communist Party of India (Marxist)
1965 E. M. S. Namboodiripad 1,257,869 19.87% 133
40 / 73
Increase new No Result
1967 1,476,456 23.51% 133
52 / 59
Increase 12 Government
1970 N/A N/A 133
29 / 70
Decrease 23 Opposition
1977 1,946,051 22.2 % 140
17 / 68
Decrease12 Opposition
1980 E. K. Nayanar 1,846,312 19.4% 140
35 / 50
Increase18 Government
1982 1,798,198 18.8% 140
28 / 51
Decrease 7 Opposition
1987 2,912,999 22.8 % 140
38 / 70
Increase 10 Government
1991 3,129,523 22.1 % 140
28 / 65
Decrease 10 Opposition
1996 V. S. Achuthanandan 3,078,723 21.6 % 140
40 / 62
Increase 12 Government
2001 3,361,827 21.4 % 140
24 / 65
Decrease 16 Opposition
2006 4,732,381 30.4 % 140
61 / 85
Increase 37 Government
2011 4,921,354 28.2 % 140
44 / 84
Decrease17 Opposition
2016 Pinarayi Vijayan 5,365,472 26.7 % 140
58 / 84
Increase 14 Government
2021 5,288,502 25.5 % 140
62 / 75
Increase 4 Government

Indian general elections results in Kerala of CPI(M)

Performance of Communist Party of India (Marxist), Kerala in Loksabha elections
Year Legislature Party Secretary Total constituencies Seats won / contested Change in seats Total votes Per. of votes Change in vote % Ref.
1967 4th Lok Sabha Puchalapalli Sundarayya 19
9 / 9
New 1,540,027 24.6 % New [33]
1971 5th Lok Sabha 19
2 / 11
Decrease 7 1,711,442 26.2 % Increase 1.60% [34]
1977 6th Lok Sabha 20
0 / 9
Decrease 2 1,800,193 20.3 % Decrease 5.90% [35]
1980 7th Lok Sabha E. M. S. Namboodiripad 20
7 / 8
Increase 7 1,754,387 21.5 % Increase 1.20% [36]
1984 8th Lok Sabha 20
1 / 10
Decrease 6 2,425,965 22.3 % Increase 0.80% [37][38]
1989 9th Lok Sabha 20
2 / 10
Increase 1 3,411,227 22.9 % Increase 0.70% [39]
1991 10th Lok Sabha 20
3 / 9
Increase 1 2,952,043 20.7 % Decrease 2.20% [40][41]
1996 11th Lok Sabha Harkishan Singh Surjeet 20
5 / 9
Increase 2 3,044,369 21.2 % Increase 0.50% [42]
1998 12th Lok Sabha 20
6 / 9
Increase 1 3,121,636 21.0 % Decrease 0.20% [43]
1999 13th Lok Sabha 20
8 / 12
Increase 2 4,290,986 27.9 % Increase 6.90% [44]
2004 14th Lok Sabha 20
12 / 13
Increase 4 4,754,567 31.5 % Increase 3.60% [45]
2009 15th Lok Sabha Prakash Karat 20
4 / 14
Decrease 8 4,887,333 30.5 % Decrease 1.00% [46]
2014 16th Lok Sabha 20
5 / 10
Increase 1 3,880,655 21.8 % Decrease 8.70% [47]
2019 17th Lok Sabha Sitaram Yechury 20
1 / 14
Decrease 4 5,266,510 26.0 % Increase 4.20% [48]

List of elected members

Sl.no Constituency Name of the
elected MLA
Party
affiliation
Kasaragod district
1UdmaC. H. KunhambuCPI(M)
2ThrikaripurM. RajagopalanCPI(M)
Kannur district
3PayyanurT. I. MadusoodhananCPI(M)
4KalliasseriM.VijinCPI(M)
5TaliparambaM.V Govindan MasterCPI(M)
6DharmadomPinarayi VijayanCPI(M)
7ThalasseryA. N. ShamseerCPI(M)
8MattanurK. K. ShailajaCPI(M)
9AzhikodeK.V SumeshCPI(M)
Wayanad district
10MananthavadyO. R. KeluCPI(M)
Kozhikode district
11KoyilandyKanathil JameelaCPI(M)
12PerambraT. P. RamakrishnanCPI(M)
13BalusseryK.M Sachin DevCPI(M)
14Kozhikode NorthThottathil RaveendranCPI(M)
15BeyporeP.A Muhammed RiyasCPI(M)
16ThiruvambadyLinto JosephCPI(M)
17KuttiyadiK.P Kunhammad KuttyCPI(M)
Malappuram district
18PonnaniP.NandakumarCPI(M)
Palakkad district
19ShornurP MammikuttyCPI(M)
20OttapalamK.PremkumarCPI(M)
21KongadK.ShanthakumariCPI(M)
22MalampuzhaA PrabhakaranCPI(M)
23TarurP.P SumodCPI(M)
24NenmaraK. BabuCPI(M)
25AlathurK. D. PrasenanCPI(M)
26ThrithalaM.B RajeshCPI(M)
Thrissur district
27ChelakkaraK RadhakrishnanCPI(M)
28 WadakkancheryXavier ChittilappillyCPI(M)
29KunnamkulamA. C. MoideenCPI(M)
30GuruvayurN.K AkbarCPI(M)
31ManalurMurali PerunelliCPI(M)
32IrinjalakudaR BindhuCPI(M)
33PuthukkadK.K RamachandranCPI(M)
Ernakulam district
34VypeenK.N UnnikrishnanCPI(M)
35KalamasseriP.RajeevCPI(M)
36KochiK. J. MaxiCPI(M)
37KothamangalamAntony JohnCPI(M)
38KunnathunaduP.V SreenijanCPI(M)
Idukki district
39DevikulamA RajaCPI(M)
40UdumbancholaM. M. ManiCPI(M)
Kottayam district
41EttumanoorV.N VasavanCPI(M)
Alappuzha district
42AlappuzhaP. P. ChitharanjanCPI(M)
43AmbalappuzhaH.SalamCPI(M)
44KayamkulamPrathiba HariCPI(M)
45MavelikkaraM.S ArunkumarCPI(M)
46ChengannurSaji CherianCPI(M)
47AroorDhaleema JojoCPI(M)
Pathanamthitta district
48AranmulaVeena GeorgeCPI(M)
49KonniK. U. Jenish KumarCPI(M)
Kollam district
50KottarakkaraK.N BalagopalCPI(M)
51KollamM. MukeshCPI(M)
52EravipuramM. NoushadCPI(M)
Thiruvananthapuram district
53VarkalaV. JoyCPI(M)
54AruvikkaraG.StephenCPI(M)
55NemamV.ShivankuttyCPI(M)
56AttingalO.S AmbikaCPI(M)
57VamanapuramD. K. MuraliCPI(M)
58KazhakoottamKadakampally SurendranCPI(M)
59VattiyoorkavuV. K. PrasanthCPI(M)
60ParassalaC. K. HareendranCPI(M)
61KattakkadaI. B. SathishCPI(M)
62NeyyattinkaraK. A. AnsalanCPI(M)

Rajya Sabha

# Name[49] Party Term Start[50] Term End[50]
1 A. A. Rahim CPM 03-Apr-2022 03-Apr-2028
2 V. Sivadasan CPM 24-Apr-2021 23-Apr-2027
3 John Brittas CPM 24-Apr-2021 23-Apr-2027
4 Elamaram Kareem CPM 02-Jul-2018 01-Jul-2024

Lok Sabha

# Constituency Name Party
1 Alappuzha A. M. Ariff Communist Party of India (Marxist)

See also

References

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