India's communists once ruled millions. What happened to them?
Summary
India's communist parties, once powerful in several states and national politics, have lost much of their influence. The recent defeat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led government in Kerala ended the era of any communist-led state government in India. Their decline reflects changes in political priorities and the rise of other political forces like nationalism and populism.Key Facts
- For the first time since 1957, India has no communist-led state governments after CPI(M)’s defeat in Kerala.
- Communist parties once ruled states including West Bengal (1977–2011), Tripura, and Kerala, governing millions of people.
- In 1996, Jyoti Basu, a CPI(M) leader, was offered the chance to become India’s prime minister but his party refused.
- The communists played a key role in national politics, notably withdrawing support for Manmohan Singh’s government in 2008 over a nuclear deal.
- Communist influence extended beyond politics into unions, student groups, and cultural life.
- Their vote share nationally has dropped from over 6% in the 1980s to less than 2% in recent elections.
- The decline is linked to the rise of Hindu nationalism, identity politics, and economic changes since the 1990s.
- Communists remain politically active in Kerala and some other regions but are much weaker in former strongholds like West Bengal and Tripura.
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