India: Fascists vandalize Lenin's statue in West Bengal

On the night of 5 May, a group of fascists allegedly affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked and vandalized Vladimir Lenin's statue in Murshidabad, West Bengal. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemned the heinous act and stressed out: "On the night of May 5, in Jiaganj area of Murshidabad district, BJP goons attacked and broke a statue of Lenin. Our comrades immediately responded and filed a police complaint. A demonstration was held, following which five were arrested. This morning, our comrades went to the site again. The statue will be rebuilt on May 8th.  

 

Red Kerala falls: Communist-backed Left Democratic Front suffers historic electoral defeat

The Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), suffered a major electoral defeat in the recent state assembly elections in Kerala, bringing to an end a decade of Left governance in one of India’s most politically advanced and socially progressive states.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) secured a commanding parliamentary majority, winning 102 out of 140 seats, while the CPI(M)-led alliance was reduced to just 35 seats. 

 

Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Nepal Turmoil

On the occasion of the recent massive, widespread protests in Nepal, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

"The Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its deep anguish over the loss of 20 precious young lives during the GenZ protests in Nepal. These protests reflect the widespread anger stemming from the growing grievances of the people, particularly the youth, against the repeated failures of successive governments to resolve their genuine problems and meet their aspirations.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) blasts Trump government's imposition of tariffs on Indian exports

Following the decision of US President Donald Trump to impose an additional 25% tariff on Indian exports, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the United States for imposing a 50 per cent tariff on Indian exports. 

This unilateral move is arbitrary, dictatorial and reflects the bullying tactics of the US administration.

VS Achuthanandan, veteran Indian communist leader and former Kerala Chief Minister, dies

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on the death of Comrade VS Achuthanandan - also known with the initials VS - in Thiruvananthapuram today at 3:20 pm, after prolonged illness:

Homage to Comrade V. S. Achuthanandan

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its profound grief at the death of V. S. Achuthanandan, an outstanding leader and veteran of the communist movement. V. S. Achuthanandan was a former member of the Polit Bureau. He was 101 years old.

India's communists oppose Elon Musk's Starlink entry in the country

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) opposes the permission given by the government of India to Elon Musk’s Starlink to commence its operations in India.  More specifically, a statement by CPIM points out:

"There is no transparency in the entire process of how Starlink was accorded permission to operate in our country. StarLink is a foreign corporation and handing over India’s critical infrastructure to foreign hands has serious security implications. It provides a backdoor to US agencies into our telecom system and even our strategic communications.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemns the killing of 27 Maoists by state forces in Chhattisgarh

In a statement concerning the killing of at least 27 Maoist rebels, including their leader, by state forces, on Wednesday 21 May, in Chhattisgarh, the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) points out:

"The Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns the encounter of 27 Maoists, including their General Secretary Nambala Kesavarao, in Chhattisgarh. 

Communist Parties of India condemn Pahalgam Terror Attack in Jammu and Kashmir

The Communist Parties of India, CPI(M) and CPI, strongly condemn the terrorist massacre in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that led to 28 deaths of innocent people. 

 

The attack, which took place on 22 April, is considered the deadliest in years in the Indian-administered Kashmir area. 

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

Communist Party of India (Marxist) elects M.A Baby as its new General Secretary

The 24th congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which concluded in Madurai on Sunday, elected M.A. Baby, Polit Bureau member since 2012, as its General Secretary for the next three years.

Mr. Baby, formerly the Education and Culture Minister in Kerala, is the second leader from the Kerala unit to helm the party nationally. He succeeds Sitaram Yechury who passed away on 12 September 2024.

KKE's General Secretary Koutsoumbas pays tribute to comrade Sitaram Yechury

Yechury and Koutsoumbas in 2016 in Athens

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) expressed its sadness over the death of Indian communist leader Sitaram Yechury, who passed away yesterday at the age of 72. In a letter signed by General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the KKE praises Yechury's contribution to the international communist movement. 

More specifically, Koutsoumbas' letter which was published on "Rizospastis", stresses out:

Sitaram Yechury, Indian communist leader, dies aged 72

Sitaram Yechury, long-time General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has died at 72 following hospitalization for acute respiratory tract infection.

In a statement, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) points out:

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its profound grief at the passing away of Comrade Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of the Party on September 12, 2024. He died after battling a severe lung infection at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He was aged 72 years.

India: Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, veteran Communist and former West Bengal Chief Minister, dies at 80

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, veteran Communist Party leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister, died today, 8 August, at his south Kolkata (Calcutta) residence.  

In a statement,  the Central Committee office of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) points out: 

"The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its profound grief at the passing away of Comrade Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, outstanding leader of the Party and former Chief Minister of West Bengal.  He was aged 80 years and had been in ailing health for some time. 

Communist Party of India (Marxist): Election results mark a setback for BJP and Modi

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The results of the 18th Lok Sabha election are a setback for the BJP. It has lost its majority in the Lok Sabha which it had got in the past two Lok Sabha polls in 2014 and 2019. This is a stinging blow to the image of invincibility built around Narendra Modi, who had boasted about winning 400 seats in this election.

Communist Party of India (Marxist): Statement on the gruesome train accident in Odisha

In a statement concerning the gruesome train crash in Odisha, which claimed the lives of at least 280 people, the Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) stresses out:

"The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their dear ones in this worst rail accident in recent times. The PB calls upon all concerned authorities to prevent the rise of the death toll by ensuring speedy and urgent medical attention to the injured.

Communist Party of India (Marxist): Growing assaults on people’s livelihood by Modi government

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi on July 16. It has issued the following statement:

Growing assaults on people’s livelihood

World Bank data shows that the annual growth of the Indian economy over 2020-22 was a mere 0.8 per cent.

KKE condemns the bomb attack at CPI(M) headquarters

On June 1st, unidentified cowards attacked the Kerala state committee headquarters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Thiruvananthapuram. Police said the explosive substance was hurled at the AKG Centre, situated in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, by a motorbike-borne man at around 11.30 pm.

In a statement the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemned the bomb attack and expressed confidence that “the state government will investigate thoroughly and punish the culprits. 

Sitaram Yechury re-elected as General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)

The 85-member new Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) that was elected at the 23rd Party Congress held in Kannur has chosen Sitaram Yechury as General Secretary. 

Yechury, 69, is taking over the leadership of the party for a third consecutive term. 

He succeeded Prakash Karat who has held the top post in India's largest left party from 2005 to 2015. 

The 23rd Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) kicks off in Kannur

The 23rd Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) kicked off yesterday in the city of Kannur, in Kerala.  

The Draft Political Resolution (abstract here) was introduced to the Party Congress by the General Secretary, Sitaram Yechury

As is the tradition of vigorous inner-Party democracy practised by the CPI(M), this Draft Resolution was released two months in advance and all Party members have the right to send amendments directly to the Central Committee. 4,001 amendments were received by the Central Committee, in the stipulated time. 

India: Millions of working people participated in 48-hour general strike

Another massive general strike took place in India on 28-29th March 2022, with millions of working men and women responding to the call by the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions, Independent Sectoral Federations/ Associations.

"This historic strike call was given not merely on immediate demands of the workers but against the anti-national destructive policies of Central government", reads a statement by Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

23rd Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist): Extracts from the Draft Political Resolution

Following a decision by the Central Committee, the 23rd Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) will take place in Kannur, Kerala, between 6 and 10 April 2022. 

 

The Party has published the Draft Political Resolution (click here for the full text) for the upcoming Congress, extracts of which you can read below: