Sitaram Yechury Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury speaking to media in Kolkata, August 13, 2021. (more) Communist Party of India (Marxist) political party, India Also known as: CPI(M) Written by Andrew Pereira Andrew Pereira is an editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. He covers a variety of topics, with a focus on Indian politics, foreign policy, and global affairs. Andrew Pereira Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 7, 2026 •History Communist Party of India (Marxist), left-wing national political party in India. It was formed in 1964 after splitting from the Communist Party of India (CPI) over ideological differences and established long-standing governments in the states of Kerala, Tripura, and West Bengal. Since the early 2010s the party’s national footprint has diminished, marked by a loss of seats in Parliament. It also lost power in traditional strongholds such as West Bengal and Tripura in 2011 and...

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