Communist Party of India

The Communist Party of India (CPI) is a political party in India. The CPI considers the 26 December 1925 Kanpur conference as its foundation date. Between 1946 and 1951, the CPI led militant struggles such as the peasant revolt in Telangana, organising guerrilla warfare against feudal lords. The CPI was the main opposition party in India during the 1950s to 1960s. In 1964, a split in the CPI led to the formation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which eventually emerged as the larger of the two parties. CPI supported the rule of Indira Gandhi, but later changed course and embraced left unity. CPI was part of the ruling United Front government from 1996 to 1998 and had two ministers under the Devegowda and Gujral ministries.

As of 2025, the CPI has two members in the Lok Sabha and two members in the Rajya Sabha. In addition, it has 20 MLAs across three states and one each in the MLCs of Bihar and Telangana. It is designated a state party by the Election Commission of India as of 2023 in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Manipur. As of December 2023, the CPI is part of the Left Democratic Front coalition that forms the state government in Kerala. The CPI have four Cabinet Ministers and a Deputy Speaker in Kerala. In Tamil Nadu, it is a part of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Secular Progressive Alliance coalition, however it's provides confidence and supply to TVK-led Alliance, which is in power.