Template:Infobox Indian Political Party Template:Communism in India Template:Communism sidebar Template:Marxism The Communist Party of India (Marxist), Kerala or CPI(M) Kerala is the Kerala state wing of CPI(M). 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 the Rajya Sabha.[1] The CPI(M) currently leads the LDF alliance.
History
Background
Template:Main In July 1937, a clandestine meeting was held at Calicut.[2] 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. In that meeting, they founded the first cell of the CPI in Kerala. A wider conference could be conducted at Parappram, Pinarayi in December 1939 where the entire Kerala unit of the Congress Socialist Party got converted into a unit of the CPI. Thus, the proper functioning of the Communist Party of India in Kerala as a mass party started on 31 December 1939 with the Pinarayi Conference.[3]
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.[4]
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
_Leaders._Noormahal._27_Oct_1966.jpg){kind=link}
After the CPI split in 1964, prominent communist leaders 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 a splinter faction of CPI, emerged as the largest party in the assembly with 40 seats, while CPI could win only 3 seats. 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.[5][6]
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.[7] 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.[8] After 2 years of the government, due to continuous 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 dissolved in 1969.[9]
Emergency rule in Kerala
Template:Main 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.[10] 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.[11] Hundreds of Communists, whether from the CPI(M), other Marxist parties, or the Naxalites, were arrested during the Emergency.[12] Some were tortured or, as in the case of the Kerala student P. Rajan, killed.[13][14]
Formation of Left Democratic Front alliance
Template:Main 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.[15]
Nayanar Era (1980 - 2001)
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.[16] The CPI(M) led alliance has won every alternate election in 1980 election, 1987 election and 1996 election since the formation led by Nayanar.[17] 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.[18]
Timeline
- 1925 - Workers and Peasants Party formed which later helped to form Communist Party of India.[19]
- 1925 - Communist Party of India founded in Kanpur on 26 December 1925.[20]
- 1931 - Communist League formed for propaganda for organising a trade union in Trivandrum, Kerala, in 1931
- 1934 - Formation of Congress Socialist Party (CSP) in Kerala, as part of the Popular Front strategy of the ComIntern.[21]
- 1935 - All India member of Communist Party of India, P. Sundarayya met members of CSP Kerala unit leaders P. Krishna Pillai and E.M.S. Namboodiripad in Madras.[22]
- 1937 - A meeting was held in Calicut between P. Krishna Pillai, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, A. K. Gopalan, K. Damodaran, N. C. Sekhar and S.V. Ghate whom were members of Congress Socialist Party (CSP)
- 1939-40 - Split in Congress. Communist Party of India walked away with the entire Kerala Congress unit.[23]
- 1940 - Formation of Communist Party of India in Kerala
- 1946 - Punnapra-Vayalar Revolt, was a mass communist movement against C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, the Diwan (Head) of Travancore[24]
- 1947 - India gains independence from British Raj.
- 1952 - In the 1952 Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly election, Communist Party of India was banned to contest election.[25]
- 1956 - Kerala state was formed comprising South Canara (Kasaragod region), Malabar, Cochin, and Travancore.[26]
- 1957 - First Kerala Legislative assembly election was held in Kerala, the election led to the formation of first democratically elected communist government in India and first state to elect a Non-Congress party in the country.[27] E.M.S. Namboodiripad sworn in as first chief minister of Kerala.[28]
- 1959 - Dismissal of government following Liberation Struggle.[29]
- 1963 - Split in leadership of Communist Party of India (CPI).
- 1964 - Formation of Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)).[30]
- 1967 - CPI(M) led United Front Alliance won the Forth Kerala Legislative assembly election with over 113 of 133 seats. The alliance included CPI and Muslim League.
- 1980 - Formation of CPI(M) led Left Democratic Front (LDF) alliance.
Recent State Conferences and major events
- 1985 Ernakulam conference - alternative document and ouster of M. V. Raghavan
- 1988 Alappuzha conference - V. S. Achuthanandan re-elected as state secretary
- 1991 Kozhikode conference - V. S. Achuthanandan loses to E. K. Nayanar by 2 votes
- 1995 Kollam conference - downslide to VS faction
- 1998 Palakkad conference - comeback of VS and ouster of CITU lobby including M. M. Lawrence, V. B. Cheriyan, K. N. Raveendranath, Appukkutan Vallikunnu
- 2002 Kannur conference - start of the VS vs PV feud that shall continue until VS's retirement from active politics after 2015
- 2005 Malappuram conference
- 2008 Kottayam conference - paramountcy of PV faction
- 2012 Thiruvananthapuram conference
- 2015 Alappuzha conference - VS walks out [31]
Structure and composition
Template:Multiple image Template:Multiple image Template:Multiple image Template:Multiple image Template:Multiple image Template:Multiple image
List of state secretaries of CPI(M) Kerala
| Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" | Template:Abbr | Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" | Portrait | Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" | Secretary Template:Small |
Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" | Term | Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" | Total Years as secretary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | File:Blank.svg | C. H. Kanaran (1909–1972) |
1964–1972 | 8 Years |
| 2 | File:Ek nayanar.jpeg | E. K. Nayanar (1919–2004) |
1972–1980 | 8 Years |
| 3 | File:V. S. Achuthanandan 2016.jpg | V. S. Achuthanandan (1923–2025) |
1980–1992 | 12 Years |
| 4 | File:Ek nayanar.jpeg | E. K. Nayanar (1919–2004) |
1992–1996 | 4 Years |
| 5 | File:Blank.svg | Chadayan Govindan (1929–1998) |
1996-1998 | 2 Years |
| 6 | File:Pinarayi Vijayan.jpg | Pinarayi Vijayan (1945–) |
25 September 1998 – 23 February 2015 | 17 Years |
| 7 | File:Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.JPG | Kodiyeri Balakrishnan (1953–2022) |
23 February 2015 – 28 August 2022 | 7 Years |
| 8 | File:M. V. Govindan Master 01 4.jpg | M. V. Govindan (1953–) |
31 August 2022–present | Incumbent |
List of Polit Bureau members from CPI(M) Kerala
| Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white"| Template:Abbr | Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white"| Portrait | Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white"| Name | Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white"| Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | File:E. M. S. Namboodiripad.jpg | E. M. S. Namboodiripad | 1964 - 1998 |
| 2 | File:AK Gopalan 1990 stamp of India.jpg | A. K. Gopalan | 1964 - 1977 |
| 3 | File:E. Balanandan4.jpg | E. Balanandan | 1978 - 2005 |
| 4 | File:V. S. Achuthanandan 2016.jpg | V. S. Achuthanandan | 1986 - 2009 |
| 5 | File:E K Nayanar 2.jpg | E. K. Nayanar | 1992 - 2004 |
| 6 | File:Srp1.JPG | S. Ramachandran Pillai | 1992 - 2022 |
| 7 | File:Pinarayi vijayan klf.jpg | Pinarayi Vijayan | 1998–present |
| 8 | File:Kodiyeri balakrishnan (2).png | Kodiyeri Balakrishnan | 2008 - 2022 |
| 9 | File:M A Baby.jpg | M. A. Baby | 2012–present |
| 10 | File:M. V. Govindan Master 01 6.jpg | M. V. Govindan | 2022–present |
| 11 | File:A.vijayaraghavan4.jpg | A. Vijayaraghavan | 2022–present |
.png){kind=link}
Current State Secretariat Leaders
_Kerala_(87902).jpg){kind=link}
Source:[32]
| Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" | Template:Abbr | Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" | Leader's name | Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" | Born (Age) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pinarayi Vijayan | 1945-05-24 (age 81) |
| 2 | M. V. Jayarajan | 1960 |
| 3 | K. K. Shailaja | |
| 4 | E. P. Jayarajan | 1950-05-28 (age 76) |
| 5 | T. P. Ramakrishnan | 1950-06-15 (age 76) |
| 6 | T. M. Thomas Isaac | 1952-09-26 (age 74) |
| 7 | M. V. Govindan | 1953-04-23 (age 73) |
| 8 | V. N. Vasavan | 1954-03-03 (age 72) |
| 9 | K. N. Balagopal | 1963-07-28 (age 63) |
| 10 | Saji Cherian | 1965-05-28 (age 61) |
| 11 | P. Rajeeve | 1968-05-13 (age 58) |
| 12 | P. K. Biju | 1974-04-03 (age 52) |
| 13 | P. A. Mohammed Riyas | 1976-05-18 (age 50) |
| 14 | CN Mohanan | |
| 15 | M. Swaraj | 1979-05-27 (age 47) |
| 16 | Puthalath Dineshan | |
| 17 | KK Jayachandran |
Principal mass organisations
| Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" | No. | Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" | Organisation Name | Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" | Association for | Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" | President |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) | Youth | V. Vaseef |
| 2 | Students' Federation of India (SFI) | Students | M Shivaprasad |
| 3 | Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) | Trade union | Elamaram Kareem |
| 4 | All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) | Women | P. K. Sreemathy |
| 5 | Balasangham | Children | Pravisha Pramod |
| 6 | Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) | Bank | C. J. Nandakumar |
| 7 | Adivasi Kshema Samithi (AKS) | Tribal | K. C. Kunhiraman |
| 8 | All India Agricultural Workers Union | Agricultural Workers | A. Vijayaraghavan |
| 9 | All India Kisan Sabha | Farmers | Valsan Panoli |
| 10 | Coffee Farmers’ Federation of India | Coffee Farmers | M. M. Mani |
| 11 | Purogama Kalasahitya Sangham | Writers and Artists | Shaji N. Karun |
| 12 | Kerala NGO Union (NGOU) | Non Gazetted Officers | M. V. Sashidharan |
| 12 | Kerala Gazetted Officers' Association (KGOA) | Gazetted Officers | Dr. M. A. Nazer |
| 13 | Association of Kerala Govt. College Teachers (AKGCT) | Govt. College Teachers | Prof. (Dr.) Manoj N. |
| 14 | All Kerala Private College Teachers' Association (AKPCT) | Private College Teachers' Association | Nisanth A |
| 15 | Kerala School Teachers Association (KSTA) | School Teachers |
District Secretaries
| Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" |No. | Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" |District | Style="background-color:Template:Party color; color:white" |District Secretary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thiruvananthapuram | V. Joy[33] |
| 2 | Kollam | S.Sudevan[34] |
| 3 | Alappuzha | R. Naser [34] |
| 4 | Pathanamthitta | Raju Abraham [32] |
| 5 | Kottayam | A. V. Rasal [32] |
| 6 | Idukki | C.V. Varghese [32] |
| 7 | Ernakulam | S. Satheesh [32] |
| 8 | Thrissur | M. M. Varghese [32] |
| 9 | Palakkad | E.N. Suresh Babu [32] |
| 10 | Malappuram | V.P. Anil[32] |
| 11 | Kozhikode | M. Mehabub[32] |
| 12 | Wayanad | Rafeeq[32] |
| 13 | Kannur | M. V. Jayarajan[32] |
| 14 | Kasaragod | M. Rajagopalan |
List of Chief Ministers from CPI(M)
| No. | Portrait | Name Ministry (Year) |
Length of term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longest continuous term | Total years of premiership | |||
| 1 | File:EMS Namboodiripad 2001 stamp of India (cropped) 1.jpg | Template:Sortname Template:Small |
2 years, 240 days | 4 years 357 days |
| 2 | File:E K Nayanar 2.jpg | Template:Sortname Template:Small |
5 years, 27 days | 11 years, 10 days |
| 3 | File:V. S. Achuthanandan 2016.jpg | Template:Sortname Template:Small |
4 years, 364 days | 4 years, 364 days |
| 4 | File:Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan 2023.tif | Template:Sortname Template:Small |
Template:Age in years and days | Template:Age in years and days |
_1.jpg){kind=link}
Kerala Assembly election results
Loksabha election results of CPI (M) in Kerala
List of elected members
Kerala Legislative Assembly
Rajya Sabha
| # | Name[51] | Party | Term start[52] | Term End[52] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A. A. Rahim | style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | CPI(M) | 03-Apr-2022 | 03-Apr-2028 |
| 2 | V. Sivadasan | style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | CPI(M) | 24-Apr-2021 | 23-Apr-2027 |
| 3 | John Brittas | style="background-color: Template:Party color" | | CPI(M) | 24-Apr-2021 | 23-Apr-2027 |
Lok Sabha
| # | Constituency | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alathur | K.Radhakrishnan | bgcolor=Template:Party color| | CPI(M) |
See also
- Politics in Kerala
- Left Democratic Front
- Communism in Kerala
- Communist Party of India (Marxist), Tripura
- Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal
- Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee
- Communist Party of India (Marxist), Tamil Nadu
- Communist Party of India - Kerala
References
- ↑ One of the few places where a communist can still dream. The Washington Post(2017-10-27).
- ↑ A man and a movement, Thiruvananthapuram, R. KRISHNAKUMAR in. Frontline(26 August 2004). Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ↑ Founders. CPIM Kerala. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ↑ Punnapra Vayalar violence can't be part of freedom struggle. Rediff On The Net(1997).
- ↑ History of Kerala Legislature. Kerala Government. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ↑ STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1965 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF KERALA. www.ceo.kerala.gov.in. ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA NEW DELHI.
- ↑ Kerala Chronicles: When a Coalition of Seven Political Parties Came Together Only to Fall Apart. The News Minute(2017-06-19).
- ↑ Council of Ministers since 1967 – First Kerala Legislative Assembly. Government of Kerala.
- ↑ Kerala chronicles: When a coalition of 7 political parties came together only to fall apart. www.thenewsminute.com. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
- ↑ On Emergency anniversary, CM Pinarayi calls to step up vigil as 'constitution faces severe threat'. Mathrubhumi(25 June 2022). Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ↑ പിണറായിയുടെ 1977 മാര്ച്ച് 30 ലെ നിയമസഭ പ്രസംഗം.
- ↑ Pinarayi Vijayan: Steeled by a life of relentless adversities. The Hindu(21 May 2016).
- ↑ Emergency: 'Rajan's mother died asking for him'. Rediff.com(26 June 2000). Retrieved 11 August 2019.
- ↑ Fresh probe in Rajan case sought. The Hindu(25 January 2011).
- ↑ The Left returns in Kerala. The Hindu. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ↑ Nayanar: Crowd puller of Lefitst forces. The Times of India(19 May 2004). Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ↑ History of Kerala legislature - Government of Kerala, India. kerala.gov.in. Retrieved 2019-05-26.
- ↑ The people's leader. The Hindu. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ↑ Ralhan, O.P. (ed.). Encyclopaedia of Political Parties - India - Pakistan - Bangladesh - National -Regional - Local. Vol. 14. Communist Party of India. New Delhi: Anmol Publications, 2002. p. 210
- ↑ Brief History of CPI – CPI. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ↑ Roy, Samaren. M.N. Roy: A Political Biography. Hyderabad: Orient Longman, 1998. p. 113, 115
- ↑ Puchalapalli Sundarayya remembered. The Hindu(31 October 2012).
- ↑ Modern India: 1885 - 1947{{#if:Sarkar|, Sarkar}. Palgrave MacMillan(1989)
- ↑ Modern India: 1885 - 1947{{#if:Sarkar|, Sarkar}. Palgrave MacMillan(1989)
- ↑ History of Kerala Legislature. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
- ↑ India Since 1947: The Independent Years{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Penguin Books India(2007). ISBN 978-0-14-310274-8
- ↑ Nehru to the Nineties: The Changing Office of Prime Minister in India{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers(1994). ISBN 978-1-85065-180-2
- ↑ Communism in Kerala: A Study in Political Adaptation{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. University of California Press(1 January 1982). ISBN 978-0-520-04667-2
- ↑ Politics, Women, And Well Being: How Kerala Became 'A Model'{{#if:Jeffrey|, Jeffrey}. Palgrave Macmillan(1992). ISBN 978-1-349-12254-7
- ↑ List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18 January 2013. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 V S Achuthanandan - Making and Remaking of a Mass Leader. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ↑ 32.00 32.01 32.02 32.03 32.04 32.05 32.06 32.07 32.08 32.09 32.10 Leaders | CPIM. www.cpimkerala.org. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ↑ V. Joy replaces Anavoor Nagappan as CPI(M) Thiruvananthapuram district secretary. The Hindu(2023-01-05). Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Leaders | CPIM. www.cpimkerala.org. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
- ↑ Template:Cite report
- ↑ Template:Cite report
- ↑ LS Statistical Report : 1977 Vol. 1. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ↑ LS Statistical Report : 1980 Vol. 1. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ↑ LS Statistical Report : 1984 Vol. 1. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ↑ LS Statistical Report : 1985 Vol. 1. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ↑ LS Statistical Report : 1989 Vol. 1. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ↑ LS Statistical Report : 1991 Vol. 1. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ↑ LS Statistical Report : 1992 Vol. 1. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ↑ LS Statistical Report: 1996 Vol. 1. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ↑ LS Statistical Report: 1998 Vol. 1. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ↑ LS Statistical Report : 1999 Vol. 1. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ↑ LS Statistical Report: 2004 Vol. 1. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ↑ LS 2009: Performance of National Parties. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ↑ LS 2014: List of successful candidates. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ↑ LS 2019: List of successful candidates(11 October 2019). Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ↑ Statewise List. 164.100.47.5.
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 Statewise Retirement. 164.100.47.5.
External links
Template:Left Democratic Front (Kerala) Template:Communist Party of India (Marxist) Template:Indian political parties