Longest-serving democratically elected communist government
A democratically elected communist government came to power in eastern India in 1977
Witness History · BBC World Service
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Show Notes
In 1977 what was to become the world’s longest-serving democratically elected communist government came to power in eastern India.
Poverty and absolute rule by the central government led to West Bengal embracing a different political ideology to the rest of the country. Their rule lasted until 2011 when they were voted out.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) official Mohammad Salim shares his memories of when his party came to power with Rumella Dasgupta.
(Photo: Mohammed Salim. Credit: Biswarup Ganguly/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)