The Communist Party of India (CPI) is a political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925. But the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which split-off from the CPI, claims that the party was founded in the USSR in 1920.

ROLE OF CPI IN THE PRESENT SITUATION
CPI is recognized by the Election Commission of India as a 'National Party'. To date, CPI happens to be the only national political party from India to have contested all the general elections using the same electoral symbol. In West Bengal it participates in the Left Front-government. It also participates in the state government in Manipur. In Kerala the party is part of Left Democratic Front, and has ministers in the state government. In Tripura the party is a partner of the governing Left Front, but does not have any ministers of its own. In Tamil Nadu it is part of the Alliance. The current general secretary of CPI is Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan.

PRINCIPAL MASS ORGANISATION OF CPI:

* All India Trade Union Congress
* All India Youth Federation
* All India Students Federation
* National Federation of Indian Women
* All India Kisan Sabha (peasants organization)
* Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union (agricultural workers)
* All India State Government Employees Federation (State government employees)