Maoist leadership crisis: New challenges in Odisha after Ganesh's death

Bhubaneswar: Jolted by the killing of top Maoist Ganesh Uike, who was a central committee (CC) member and in-charge of the operations of outlawed CPI (Maoist) in Odisha, the outfit’s central leadership, in disarray following the deaths of several prominent leaders and sustained operations by security agencies, is expected to encounter fresh challenges in selecting Ganesh’s successor.CPI (Maoist) has not convened its central committee since May 21, when general secretary Basavaraju — considered the architect of the outfit’s Odisha expansion — was killed along with 27 cadres in Chhattisgarh. This year alone, the outfit has lost at least 10 CC members, including military leader Madvi Hidma. Ganesh’s death further aggravated the crisis, leaving the organisation struggling to maintain its Odisha base.Security officers believe the outfit may not immediately appoint Ganesh’s successor. While CC members Mallaraji Reddy alias Sangram (Chhattisgarh) and Analda alias Toofan (Jharkhand) are in the race to shoulder the outfit’s crumbling base in Odisha, bigger responsibilities are likely to be handed to state/special zonal committee members Sudarshan alias Bikash (Telangana) and Nikhil alias Niranjan Rout (Odisha). Nikhil and Bikash carry bounties of Rs 65 lakh each on their heads.“The outfit is gasping for breath. Sudarshan and Nikhil may be tasked with reviving the base in Odisha. But we will foil their plans and continue with our heightened operations,” a senior security officer said. With its leadership decimated and cadres dwindling, CPI (Maoist) faces one of its toughest phases in Odisha, officers claimed.Nikhil, who earlier led the Bansadhara-Ghumusar-Nagavali division, narrowly escaped an anti-Maoist operation in Kandhamal a fortnight ago. Odisha police recently pasted posters of Sudarshan, Nikhil, his wife Ankita alias Indu, Krishna alias Sukru, and Nitu across Kandhamal and adjoining districts, announcing rewards for information about their whereabouts.The anti-Maoist campaign in Odisha has gained significant momentum this year. On Sept 11, CC member and Odisha secretary Modem Balakrishna was killed in Chhattisgarh. Earlier, on Jan 21, a joint Odisha-Chhattisgarh and CRPF operation eliminated top commander Chalapathi and 13 cadres in Chhattisgarh. Chalapathi was actively involved in attempts to revive Maoist influence in Odisha. The May 21 encounter that killed Basavaraju and 27 others dealt a body blow to Left-wing extremism in the region. “These operations have decimated Maoist influence in Odisha. Nearly 95% of the Maoists operating in Odisha are from Chhattisgarh. Currently, only around 80 Maoists remain active in the state, including about five from Odisha,” a senior officer said.