In the Assembly Election of March 1957 in Kerala, the Communist Party obtained the largest number of seats. Out of 126 seats, 60 were won by the Communist Party. They also got the support of 5 Independent Members. Therefore the then Governor invited EMS Namboodiripad, the leader of the Majority Party in the Legislature, to form the Government This was the first Communist Government in the world that came to power through ballot.

The Congress Party declared a Liberation Struggle against the Communist Government. According to the Communists, this protest was organized with the support of some religious leaders and other interested groups to prevent the Communist Government from making reforms for the welfare of the masses. In 1959, using Article 356 of the Constitution, the Central Government dismissed the Communist Government of Kerala. Many people criticised this action by the Centre. They thought that this was a misuse of the powers entrusted to the Centre by Article 356.