The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (abbreviated as CPI(M)/CPIM/CPM) is a communist political party in India. It is the largest communist party in India in terms of membership and electoral seats and one of the national parties of India. The party emerged from a split in the Communist Party of India (CPI) on 7 November 1964. As of 2022, CPI(M) is a part of ruling alliances in two states — the Left Democratic Front in Kerala and the Secular Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu. CPI(M) has representation in the legislative assemblies of 9 states including Himachal Pradesh. Party candidate Rakesh Singh won the Theog seat in 2017. Overall, the party contested just 14 seats in the state and 13 of them lost their deposits. The party received only 1.47% of the total votes polled in the state. In 2012, the party was not able to win a single seat in the state and received just 1.16% of the total votes polled. Before 2017, the party had its representation in the state Assembly in 1993.