Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Red Star

The Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Red Star, often abbreviated as CPI (ML) Red Star, is a communist political party in India. It is a splinter group of the original Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI (ML)), emerging from the faction led by K.N. Ramachandran.

The party adheres to Marxist-Leninist-Maoist ideology. It advocates for armed revolution to overthrow the Indian state and establish a socialist society. CPI (ML) Red Star is known for its involvement in various mass movements and struggles, particularly in rural areas, focusing on issues related to land rights, tribal rights, and against displacement.

The party maintains a presence in several Indian states, including Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Its organizational structure involves party committees at various levels, from local units to state and central committees. The party publishes literature and periodicals to disseminate its ideology and propagate its political line.

CPI (ML) Red Star actively participates in the Indian political landscape, though often outside the mainstream electoral process, focusing instead on building revolutionary movements from the ground up. It is critical of both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress, viewing them as representatives of capitalist and imperialist interests.

The party has faced state repression and has been involved in armed conflicts with security forces in some regions. It is considered part of the Naxalite movement, a broad term used to describe various communist guerrilla groups in India. The CPI (ML) Red Star distinguishes itself from other Naxalite groups through its specific ideological interpretations and tactical approaches to revolution.