At that time, they said, nobody could defeat the Congress. It still had a strong base from the nationalist movement, it retained its veteran campaigners and politicians, and it would most definitely have a better grassroots organisation than any other.

Namboodiripad was also a member of the Congress back in his youth, and he would form the Congress Socialist Party within the Congress in 1934. Remaining committed to socialist ideas, he would also be drawn to the CPI as the Socialist Party was forced to merge with the Congress.

At that time, around the world, it was believed that Communists would come to power (if ever) on a revolutionary basis - by overthrowing an elected government. But Namboodiripad contested, and became one of the first Communist governments to actually come to power in the Indian state of Kerala not by force, but by sheer support of the populace - participating inside elected governance.

Anti-government struggles hardened in the state, as a Liberation Struggle was declared, and the government was forced to impose Article 356 of the Constitution, dismissing the government due to various disturbances.

His break with mainstream politics came in 1962, when in the Sino-Indian war, he and a few communists would often be accused of arguing in support of China, and would be heavily persecuted in response. As they formed the CPI(M), they would be persecuted throughout the nation for charges of treason.

Namboodiripad would pass away in 1998, after having left behind a legacy of long electoral fights and uphill battles against a system he sought to overcome.