A Journey Through Time: The Congresses of the Communist Parties in India

List of the Congresses of the Communist Party of India (CPI) from the 1st to the 6th, followed by the Congresses of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) from the 7th to the 23rd.

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Formation of CPI, 1920

• The Communist Party of India’s origins reflect a rich tapestry of revolutionary influences, drawing from various anti-colonial movements across India.
• Influential figures from the Ghadar movement, associates of Bhagat Singh, Bengali revolutionaries, and militant labor leaders all contributed to the party’s early development.
• The CPI aimed to provide a radical, socialist vision to India’s struggle for independence, championing the rights of the working class and peasantry.
• The Communist International (Comintern), based in the Soviet Union, played a role in guiding the party’s initial stages.
• The Tashkent Meeting:
  • On October 17, 1920, a small group of seven individuals met in Tashkent, Turkistan Republic (Soviet Union), to establish the CPI.
  • Motivated by the October Revolution and the desire to end British rule, these founders sought to establish socialism in India.²
  • Key figures included M.N. Roy, Evelyn Trent-Roy, and Mohd.³ Shafiq, who served as the party’s first secretary.
  • The meeting laid the foundation for the CPI’s commitment to international worker unity and the fight against capitalist exploitation.

 Communist Party of India (CPI) Congresses (1st to 6th)

1st Congress of the Communist Party of India

• Date: December 25–28, 1925
• Location: Kanpur, United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), India
• Politburo Members: No formal Politburo existed at this stage. Key leaders included:
  • M.N. Roy (influential ideologue, though abroad),
  • S.V. Ghate (acting secretary),
  • M. Singaravelu (president of the conference),
  • Satyabhakta (organizer, briefly involved).
• Achievements:
  • This was the foundational Congress that formally established the CPI as an all-India organization, uniting scattered communist groups.
  • Adopted a constitution and a program to fight British imperialism and promote workers’ and peasants’ rights.
  • Marked the beginning of organized communist activity in India, though it faced immediate repression (e.g., the Kanpur Conspiracy Case arrests in 1924 had already targeted communists).

2nd Congress of the Communist Party of India

• Date: February 23–25, 1943
• Location: Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India
• Politburo Members: Formal Politburo established later, but key leaders included:
  • P.C. Joshi (General Secretary),
  • Ajoy Ghosh,
  • B.T. Ranadive,
  • E.M.S. Namboodiripad.
• Achievements:
  • Held during World War II, the CPI shifted its stance to support the British war effort against fascism, aligning with the Soviet Union’s “People’s War” line after the Nazi invasion of the USSR.
  • Strengthened organizational structure and expanded membership, particularly among workers and peasants.
  • Marked a period of relative legality after years of underground activity.

3rd Congress of the Communist Party of India

• Date: December 27, 1953 – January 4, 1954
• Location: Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
• Politburo Members:
  • Ajoy Ghosh (General Secretary),
  • S.A. Dange,
  • B.T. Ranadive,
  • E.M.S. Namboodiripad,
  • P. Sundarayya.
• Achievements:
  • Adopted the “National Democracy” slogan, replacing “People’s Democracy,” reflecting a strategic shift toward working within India’s parliamentary framework.
  • Focused on land reforms, labor rights, and anti-imperialist struggles.
  • Strengthened the party’s base in states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and West Bengal.

4th Congress of the Communist Party of India

• Date: April 19–29, 1956
• Location: Palghat (now Palakkad), Kerala, India
• Politburo Members:
  • Ajoy Ghosh (General Secretary),
  • S.A. Dange,
  • B.T. Ranadive,
  • E.M.S. Namboodiripad,
  • P. Sundarayya,
  • P. Ramamurthi.
• Achievements:
  • Emphasized electoral participation, laying the groundwork for the CPI’s victory in Kerala in 1957, where it formed the world’s first democratically elected communist government.

5th Congress of the Communist Party of India

• Date: April 7–16, 1958
• Location: Amritsar, Punjab, India
• Politburo Members:
  • Ajoy Ghosh (General Secretary),
  • S.A. Dange,
  • B.T. Ranadive,
  • E.M.S. Namboodiripad,
  • P. Sundarayya,
  • P. Ramamurthi.
• Achievements:
  • Celebrated the Kerala victory and consolidated the strategy of combining parliamentary and mass struggles.

6th Congress of the Communist Party of India

• Date: April 7–16, 1961
• Location: Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India
• Politburo Members:
  • Ajoy Ghosh (General Secretary until his death in 1962),
  • S.A. Dange (later Chairman),
  • E.M.S. Namboodiripad (later General Secretary),
  • B.T. Ranadive,
  • P. Sundarayya,
  • P. Ramamurthi.
• Achievements:
  • Achieved electoral success with 29 Lok Sabha seats in 1962, the CPI’s parliamentary peak.
  • Strengthened trade union and peasant movements.

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Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) Congresses (7th to 23rd)

The CPI(M) emerged from a split in the CPI in 1964. The 7th Congress marked its formal establishment.

7th Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: October 31 – November 7, 1964
• Location: Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal
• Politburo Members: P. Sundarayya (General Secretary), B.T. Ranadive, Promode Dasgupta, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, M. Basavapunnaiah, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, A.K. Gopalan, P. Ramamurthi.
• Achievements:
  • Formalized the split from CPI, establishing CPI(M) as a revolutionary Marxist-Leninist party.
  • Adopted a program rejecting CPI’s “revisionism” and emphasizing mass struggles.
  • Faced immediate repression, with over 1,000 cadres arrested during the Congress.

8th Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: December 23–29, 1968
• Location: Kochi, Kerala
• Politburo Members: P. Sundarayya (General Secretary), B.T. Ranadive, M. Basavapunnaiah, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, P. Ramamurthi, A.K. Gopalan.
• Achievements:
  • Consolidated CPI(M)’s base in Kerala and West Bengal, building on electoral gains (e.g., United Front government in Kerala, 1967).
  • Critiqued the Naxalite split (1967–1969), reaffirming mass line over armed insurrection.
  • Strengthened organizational discipline despite ongoing repression.சி.பி.ஐ(எம்) 8 வது மாநாடு, பேரணி காட்சிகள்

9th Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: June 27 – July 2, 1972
• Location: Madurai, Tamil Nadu
• Politburo Members: P. Sundarayya (General Secretary), E.M.S. Namboodiripad (elected General Secretary), B.T. Ranadive, M. Basavapunnaiah, P. Ramamurthi, A.K. Gopalan, Harkishan Singh Surjeet.
• Achievements:
  • Addressed internal debates following the Emergency-like conditions and Naxalite fragmentation.
  • E.M.S. Namboodiripad’s leadership emphasized a blend of parliamentary and extra-parliamentary struggles.
  • Expanded influence in Tripura and southern states.

10th Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: April 2–8, 1978
• Location: Jalandhar, Punjab
• Politburo Members: E.M.S. Namboodiripad (General Secretary), B.T. Ranadive, M. Basavapunnaiah, P. Ramamurthi, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, A.K. Gopalan.
• Achievements:
  • Celebrated the Left Front’s victory in West Bengal (1977), initiating a 34-year rule.
  • Focused on land reforms and rural mobilization, key achievements in West Bengal and Kerala.
  • Strengthened CPI(M)’s national presence as a major communist force.

11th Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: January 26–31, 1982
• Location: Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
• Politburo Members: E.M.S. Namboodiripad (General Secretary), B.T. Ranadive, M. Basavapunnaiah, P. Ramamurthi, E. Balanandan, Harkishan Singh Surjeet.
• Achievements:
  • Reinforced the Left Front’s governance model in West Bengal, emphasizing decentralization (Panchayati Raj).
  • Critiqued the Congress-led central government’s policies during the Emergency aftermath.
  • Expanded trade union influence through CITU.

12th Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: December 25–29, 1985
• Location: Calcutta, West Bengal
• Politburo Members: E.M.S. Namboodiripad (General Secretary), B.T. Ranadive, M. Basavapunnaiah, E. Balanandan, V.S. Achuthanandan.
• Achievements:
  • Solidified CPI(M)’s dominance in West Bengal and Kerala, with focus on agrarian reforms.
  • Opposed Rajiv Gandhi’s economic liberalization policies.
  • Enhanced organizational strength in southern states.

13th Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: December 27, 1988 – January 1, 1989
• Location: Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram), Kerala
• Politburo Members: E.M.S. Namboodiripad (General Secretary), B.T. Ranadive (died 1990), M. Basavapunnaiah, E. Balanandan, V.S. Achuthanandan, A. Nallasivan.
• Achievements:
  • Marked the peak of CPI(M)’s electoral influence in Kerala and West Bengal.
  • Advocated for secularism amid rising communal tensions (e.g., Babri Masjid issue).
  • Strengthened peasant movements through the All India Kisan Sabha.

14th Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: January 3–10, 1992
• Location: Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu
• Politburo Members: E.M.S. Namboodiripad (General Secretary, retired), Harkishan Singh Surjeet (elected General Secretary), V.S. Achuthanandan, E. Balanandan, A. Nallasivan, E.K. Nayanar, S. Ramachandran Pillai, P. Ramachandran, M. Hanumantha Rao.
• Achievements:
  • Transitioned leadership to Harkishan Singh Surjeet after E.M.S.’s retirement.
  • Opposed India’s neoliberal economic reforms post-1991.
  • Maintained Left Front’s dominance in West Bengal.

15th Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: April 2–8, 1995
• Location: Chandigarh, Punjab
• Politburo Members: Harkishan Singh Surjeet (General Secretary), V.S. Achuthanandan, E. Balanandan, E.M.S. Namboodiripad (died 1998), S. Ramachandran Pillai.
• Achievements:
  • Critiqued globalization and privatization, advocating for workers’ rights.
  • Strengthened alliances with other Left parties in the face of BJP’s rise.
  • Focused on social justice and secularism.

16th Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: October 5–11, 1998
• Location: Calcutta, West Bengal
• Politburo Members: Harkishan Singh Surjeet (General Secretary), V.S. Achuthanandan, E. Balanandan, E.K. Nayanar, M.K. Pandhe, S. Ramachandran Pillai, P. Ramachandran.
• Achievements:
  • Opposed the BJP-led NDA government’s nuclear tests and communal policies.
  • Reinforced Left Front’s governance achievements in education and health in West Bengal.
  • Expanded influence in Tripura.

17th Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: March 19–24, 2002
• Location: Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
• Politburo Members: Harkishan Singh Surjeet (General Secretary), V.S. Achuthanandan, E. Balanandan, E.K. Nayanar, M.K. Pandhe, S. Ramachandran Pillai, P. Ramachandran.
• Achievements:
• • Critiqued the BJP’s communal agenda post-Gujarat riots (2002).
  • Strengthened Left unity ahead of the 2004 elections.
  • Advocated for pro-poor policies amid economic liberalization.

18th Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: April 6–11, 2005
• Location: Delhi
• Politburo Members: Prakash Karat (elected General Secretary), V.S. Achuthanandan, M.K. Pandhe, S. Ramachandran Pillai, B.V. Raghavulu, K. Varadarajan.
• Achievements:
  • Transitioned leadership to Prakash Karat after Harkishan Singh Surjeet’s tenure.
  • Played a key role in forming the UPA government (2004), influencing pro-poor policies like NREGA.
  • Opposed neoliberalism and US imperialism.

19th Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: March 29 – April 3, 2008
• Location: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
• Politburo Members: Prakash Karat (General Secretary), S. Ramachandran Pillai, B.V. Raghavulu, K. Varadarajan, others (full list incomplete).
• Achievements:
  • Withdrew support from UPA over the Indo-US nuclear deal (2008), asserting anti-imperialist stance.
  • Focused on resisting communalism and economic inequality.
  • Strengthened grassroots mobilization.

20th Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: April 4–9, 2012
• Location: Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala
• Politburo Members: Prakash Karat (General Secretary), S. Ramachandran Pillai, B.V. Raghavulu, A.K. Padmanabhan, K. Varadarajan, others.
• Achievements:
  • Addressed electoral setbacks in West Bengal (2011), ending 34 years of Left Front rule.
  • Reaffirmed commitment to secularism and workers’ rights.
  • Focused on rebuilding in non-traditional states.

21st Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: April 14–19, 2015
• Location: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
• Politburo Members: Sitaram Yechury (elected General Secretary), S. Ramachandran Pillai, B.V. Raghavulu, A.K. Padmanabhan, others.
• Achievements:
  • Transitioned leadership to Sitaram Yechury, emphasizing broader alliances.
  • Critiqued Modi government’s policies on communalism and neoliberalism.
  • Strengthened Left unity efforts.

22nd Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: April 18–22, 2018
• Location: Hyderabad, Telangana
• Politburo Members: Sitaram Yechury (General Secretary), Prakash Karat, Pinarayi Vijayan, Brinda Karat, Manik Sarkar, B.V. Raghavulu, G. Ramakrishnan, others (17 members total).
• Achievements:
  • Adopted a resolution against BJP’s communal and neoliberal policies.
  • Debated alliances with Congress, opting for issue-based cooperation.
  • Celebrated Pinarayi Vijayan’s leadership in Kerala’s LDF government.

23rd Congress of CPI(M)

• Date: April 6–10, 2022
• Location: Kannur, Kerala
• Politburo Members: Sitaram Yechury (General Secretary, died 2024), Prakash Karat, Pinarayi Vijayan, Brinda Karat, Manik Sarkar, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, M.A. Baby, Surjya Kanta Mishra, Mohd. Salim, Subhashini Ali, B.V. Raghavulu, G. Ramakrishnan, Tapan Sen, Nilotpal Basu, Ramchandra Dome, A. Vijayaraghavan, Ashok Dhawale.
• Achievements:
  • Inducted new members (Dome, Dhawale, Vijayaraghavan), refreshing leadership.
  • Focused on resisting BJP’s authoritarianism and economic policies.
  • Strengthened Kerala’s LDF model as a national alternative.

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Notes

• Achievements: Reflect party goals (e.g., anti-imperialism, land reform, secularism) and historical context. CPI(M)’s achievements often tie to governance in Kerala, West Bengal, and Tripura.
• 24th Congress: Scheduled for April 2–6, 2025, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu; Politburo to be elected post-Congress .