Recent high-profile surrenders, including Polit Bureau member Mallojula Venugopal Rao, signal a decline in the CPI (Maoist) armed struggle. Admitting they cannot withstand the state’s might, leaders now eye the democratic mainstream. Leveraging decades of mass organization experience, the Maoists could transform underground cadres into a disciplined, over-ground political party. By mirroring the successful transitions of groups like Nepal’s Maoists or India’s CPI (ML) Liberation, they may contest the 2029 elections. Success requires abandoning armed struggle for participation in parliamentary politics to contribute to an equitable India.
Four Central Committee Members of the CPI (Maoist), Maoists in short, surrendered between September and December 2025. The senior most and the most prominent among them is Mallojula Venugopal Rao, alias Bhupathi alias Sonu, also a Polit Bureau Member, who had surrendered in Gadichiroli, on 15 September, in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Besides, at least 11 State Committee Members, 22 District/ Division Committee Members, squad commanders and several armed cadres –– together numbering over 450 have surrendered along with them.
Official figures of surrenders are much larger; close to 2,000. A significant number of them are not armed cadres but actually qualify to be termed as militants –– members of Maoist mass organisations and a few sympathisers. It is estimated that the Maoists have a significantly large sympathiser base –– the number could be about two lakh.
Maoist leaders who surrendered have made it clear that they would work among the people. They have admitted that they have not been able to withstand the armed might of the Indian state. Armed revolutionary politics has become irrelevant and expensive –– much blood has been shed on both sides.
A possible option before the Maoists now is joining the democratic political mainstream. They could, and would likely, form a political party. Surrendered high ranking leaders have given some indication to this effect. Its name and contours are their prerogative. Most important is their agenda. The Maoists have several decades of experience is organising the masses. They are a cadre-based organisation and the hierarchy is well-defined.
Ideological commitment to democracy, dedication to serve the people,leading an ethical and disciplined life, and facing the rigours and tumults of political life are quintessential to any such political formation.
As Mao Tse Tung said, “The guerrilla must move among the people as a fish swims in the sea.” In other words, people to a guerrilla are like water is to fish –– all the problems of the people should become the problem of the guerrilla. The appeal and agenda of any political party that they would like to set up has to be vast. The Maoists are good at working among the people. That was how they had formed various cadre-based organisations in all their ‘struggle areas’. But, all their Mass Organisations are underground and have been proscribed by the government. They have cadres among students, youth, women, industrial working class and rural and adivasi peasants. The point now is to transform their mass organisations into over-ground democratic organisations. They can, thus, form a strong cadre-based party and might attract more supporters and followers.
While joining mainstream politics, however, the Maoists need to understand the aspirations of all sections of the society and the people. The process is arduous and time taking, but possible.They need to come out into the open and explain their agenda to the people. They have to explain to their own cadres who are still in the underground how their armed revolutionary agenda has lost traction. Besides, while appealing to people beyond their cadres, they have to be honest and accept their mistakes –– for causing much blood to flow –– even as they highlight the sacrifices made by many of their leaders and cadres, who left the comforts of life for a rigorous underground life never to return home. Some of them were brilliant minds –– university and college toppers.
In neighbouring Sri Lanka, the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) that once spearheaded a bloody insurrection is now heading the government as part of the National People’s Power (NPP) alliance. The Maoists in Nepal had waged a bloody struggle fighting the police and the army and then decided to stop it all and join the mainstream. They stormed to power after abrogating the monarchy. In both the cases, they came to power through participatory, competitive and democratic process. It is hoped that India’s Maoists are equally wise.
First, the Maoist leaders should put aside their ideological and personality differences. They should build their ‘three magic weapons’–– ‘strong party’, ‘strong army’ and‘strong united front’–– in a different way. The ‘strong party’ will be their over-ground democratic party. They would not need a ‘strong army’any more as they join the political process. Their propaganda machinery itself shall be their ‘army’, ammunition and armour.
‘Strong united front’ could take different forms while reorganising their militant underground outfit as an overground political party, and this is a little tricky, because they need to introspect as to what will be the nature of internal cohesion within the new organisation in the changed circumstances and where to draw a line. Once there is a change in the ideological mindset all else will likely fall in place. Initially, they could confer with the Left parties with whom they share ideological affinity.
Within the country, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation [CPI (ML) Liberation] –– a Naxalite party that traces its origins to the Naxalbari movement and to its founder Charu Mazumdar –– is a good example of how it transformed into a party that participates in the democratic process and contests elections. They have two members in the present Lok Sabha,one in the Bihar Legislative Assemblya two in Jharkhand.
Thereafter, they could reach out to the other Left parties and become part of a broad Left United Front. Along the line, they can likely from, support and align with a few social organisations, which need not be political. This would be classic ‘United Font’ tactics.
While some hardcore dissenters might still want to remain in the underground, it is better for an overwhelming majority to come over-ground and participate in democratic politics. They could as well prepare for the 2029 general elections. They could win a few seats where they command support –– especially in Bastar, western Maharashtra and north Telangana –– and possibly in parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and southern Odisha.
By winning a sizeable number of seats, or being part of a Left United Front, the Maoists can set an example, contribute to parliamentary politics and bring incremental change, whatever possible and wherever that is possible. They should contribute to the larger project of an equitable, developed and prosperous India, much before we commemorate the 100th anniversary of our Independence.
* Dr P. V. Ramana is a keen observer of the Naxalite Movement in India since 2004.
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