The surrender of Mallojula Venugopal, also known as Abhay, Bhupati, Master, or Sonu (69) — a Politburo, Central Committee (CC), and Central Military Commission (CMC) member who served as official spokesperson of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) — on 15 October 2025 in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, marks a decisive ideological and operational rupture within the CPI (Maoist) hierarchy. His exit, accompanied by 60 other cadres, including zonal and divisional committee members, constitutes a major psychological and structural blow to the insurgency.

Venugopal, once the party’s principal ideologue, was among the last four surviving Politburo members and had significant influence over both armed cadres in the Dandakaranya region and sympathisers in urban networks.

This comes just months after the death of Namballa Keshava Rao, also known as Basavaraju, Ganganna, Krishna, Vijay, or Prakash (70) — the general secretary of the party (its highest executive post), and a Politburo, CC, and CMC member — in May 2025. It follows a series of high-level eliminations, including CC members Katta Ramachandra Reddy and Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy, indicating a sustained decapitation strategy by Security Forces (SFs).

Venugopal’s surrender was not merely tactical; it was a profound strategic and ideological shift. Once a staunch proponent of armed struggle, his........

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