But after the electoral defeat of Gandhi in 1977 CPI began to reconsider its relation to the Congress.
After the Bhatinda conference CPI distanced itself from the Congress and aligned itself with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) instead, promoting left unity.
[1][2][5] As an alternative to the CPI-controlled Indo-Soviet Cultural Society (ISCUS), members of AICP and the Congress set up the Friends of the Soviet Union.
[6] Although having Dange, a historical stalwart of the communist movement in India, as its leader AICP was not able to attract any major nationwide following.
Secondly, the Congress showed limited interest towards the idea of having a national alliance with the new party.