Communist Party of India

Abbreviation

CPI

Founded

1925

Founder(s)

M. N. Roy and others (party dates its foundation to the Kanpur conference of 1925)

Main base

All India

TN Assembly 2026

2 seats

One of India's oldest parties. It was the main opposition party in the first Lok Sabha. A split in 1964 led to the formation of the CPI(M).

Milestones

• 1925 Founded (Kanpur conference)
• 1952 Largest opposition party in the first Lok Sabha
• 1964 Split; CPI(M) formed
• 2026 Backs the TVK-led government in Tamil Nadu (2 MLAs)

Election record at a glance

• Contested 18 Lok Sabha general elections under this name, from 1951–52 to 2024.
• First won Lok Sabha seats in 1951–52 (16). Best result: 29 seats in 1962. Total seats won across all elections: 211.
• Highest vote share: 9.94% in 1962.
• In 2024 it contested 30 seats in 13 states/UTs and won 2, with 0.49% of all votes polled.
• In Tamil Nadu (Madras State before 1969) it has won 30 Lok Sabha seats in total; best: 8 in 1951–52.