First Communist Delegation in Parliament (combined RS and LS)
The situation in which the Communist party joined the first electoral battle under serious handicaps is to be noted in order to have a proper perspective. The ban on the communist party was withdrawn just before the first General Elections. But the party was yet to recover from the dislocation caused by the all-out attack perpetrated by the congress rulers. The election Manifesto of the communist party stated " Thousands of its leaders and members are in prison and Nehru Government refuses to release them even now. Thousands of its members, including most of the members of its Central Committee, cannot come in the open and have to remain underground. Many of the organizations of the party are illegal to this day. Military and police terror rages uabated in the areas where the Party is strongest, making participation in the elections virtually impossible. The names of the most of those who could stand as candidates of the Party have bben left out of the electrol rolls." Ever since its formation, Communit party passed through these obstacles but stood by the people against all odds, even at the cost of their lives and properties. The communist party did not concel their mistakes also. The Election manifesto state " While waging all these fights the communists have not been free from errors and mistakes. But as serious fighters they have always publicly admitted their mistakes and corrected themselves. Never have thy left the masses to the mercies of the oppressors"
It was the task at that time to see that all Left and democratic forces, groups and individuals come together and fight against the congress. The party thus called for forging a United Front to ensure the defeat of congress. Of the major democratic all parties, the socialist party had substantial following. But it showed its utter reluctance to go in for an alliance or any sort of understanding with the communist party. It was evident, in actual practice, that its leaders were more opposed to Communists than to Congress - an outlook which they made no secret of it. The Left Alliance, too was not satisfactory.
Nevertheless the elections were held in such a background, but the outcome showed the congress getting weakend and it secured only 42 percent of the votes. Despite the best effort of the congress to destroy the Communist party, it emerged as the first opposition party in the Loksabha and a powerful force in the Indian Political Scene.
Communist party contested a total of 49 states across 14 states.
It was the task at that time to see that all Left and democratic forces, groups and individuals come together and fight against the congress. The party thus called for forging a United Front to ensure the defeat of congress. Of the major democratic all parties, the socialist party had substantial following. But it showed its utter reluctance to go in for an alliance or any sort of understanding with the communist party. It was evident, in actual practice, that its leaders were more opposed to Communists than to Congress - an outlook which they made no secret of it. The Left Alliance, too was not satisfactory.
Nevertheless the elections were held in such a background, but the outcome showed the congress getting weakend and it secured only 42 percent of the votes. Despite the best effort of the congress to destroy the Communist party, it emerged as the first opposition party in the Loksabha and a powerful force in the Indian Political Scene.
Communist party contested a total of 49 states across 14 states.
| Sl. No | State Name | Seat Contested | Total Seats in States | Won | Votes polled by party | % of votes polled |
| 1 | 44 | 0 | 39272 | 0.39% | ||
| 2 | 9 | 0 | 73322 | 2.60% | ||
| 3 | 23 | 0 | 29422 | 0.41% | ||
| 4 | 9 | 0 | 24716 | 1.27% | ||
| 5 | 37 | 0 | 154073 | 1.34% | ||
| 6 | 2 | 0 | 13184 | 8.65% | ||
| 7 | 16 | 211303 | 5.77% | |||
| 8 | 15 | 0 | 251623 | 5.04% | ||
| 9 | 18 | 0 | 5490 | 0.16% | ||
| 10 | 62 | 1783407 | 8.95% | |||
| 11 | 2 | 96458 | 61.29% | |||
| 12 | 69 | 0 | 59699 | 0.35% | ||
| 13 | 26 | 720304 | 9.46% | |||
| 14 | 2 | 0 | 25128 | 14.04% | ||
| | Total (All | 49 | 334 | 16 | 3487401 | 3.29% |
List of Communist MP's in First Lok Sabha
| 1 | Basu,Shri Kamal Kumar | Diamond Harbour(West Bengal) |
| 2 | Buchhikotaiah,Shri Sanaka | Masuliipatam(Madras) |
| 3 | Chakravartty,Smt. Renu | Basirhat(West Bengal) |
| 4 | Chatterjea,Shri Tushar | Serampore(West Bengal) |
| 5 | Chowdhury,Shri Nikunja Bihari | Ghatal(West Bengal) |
| 6 | Das,Shri Bijoy Chandra | Ganjam South(Orissa) |
| 7 | Gopalan,Shri A.K. | Cannanore(Madras) |
| 8 | Gupta,Shri Sadhan | Calcutta East(West Bengal) |
| 9 | Mukerjee,Shri Hirendra Nath | Calcutta North East(West Bengal) |
| 10 | Nambiar,Shri K. Ananda | Mayuram(Madras) |
| 11 | Punnoose,Shri P.T. | Alleppey(Travancore-Cochin ) |
| 12 | Raghavaiah,Shri Pishupati Venkata | Ongole(Madras) |
| 13 | Rao,Dr. Chelikanai Venkata Rama | Kakinada(Madras) |
| 14 | Rao,Shri Kadiyala Gopala | Gudiwada(Madras) |
| 15 | Rao,Shri Kanety Mohana | Rajahmundry -SC(Madras) |
| 16 | Rao,Shri Kondru Subba | Eluru -SC(Madras) |
| 17 | Reddy,Shri Yeddula Eswara | Cuddapah(Madras) |
It was after the first general elections that we got recognition as a national party and emerged as the singlelargest group in the Opposition. But no individual group in the Opposition got recognition as a party since none of them had a share of 10 per cent the total strength of the Lok Sabha.
A.K. Gopalan was unanimously chosen as the leader of Communist Parliamentary Party. Hiren Mukherjee and Renu Chakraborty became deputy leaders and Kamal Bose the chief whip. The Speaker recognized the Communist Party as the main Opposition group. Till his death in 1977, Gopalan remained the leader of the Communist group in the Lok Sabha.
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