Hyderabad: Telangana’s Thippiri Tirupathi, also known as Devji, is emerging as the Maoist who may succeed Nambala Keshav Rao as chief of the banned CPI (Maoist). Rao was gunned down in an encounter in Chhattisgarh in May. Mallojula Venugopal, alias Sonu, is also a serious contender for leadership of the Naxal group.Telangana’s Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) has indicated that sources linked to a frontal organisation have confirmed Tirupathi’s appointment, though the Andhra Pradesh SIB has denied having any such confirmation. Both agencies function as key anti-Naxal intelligence units for their respective states.An Andhra SIB senior official clarified, “We have no confirmation on this (Tirupathi). These two, Devji and Sonu, are being viewed as the leading contenders.” However, officials said Tirupathi is primarily a military strategist and not known for his organisational leadership.A Telangana SIB officer added, “We have received information from sources linked to a frontal organisation that Tirupathi has been named as chief and CPI (Maoist) may soon announce it officially.”Senior police officers told TOI that this appointment, if it takes place, will mark a historic shift as it will make Tirupathi the first Dalit leader to head the revolutionary group, breaking longstanding caste hierarchies within the Maoist leadership. His predecessors include Kondapalli Seetharamaiah, a Reddy, Muppala Laxman Rao (alias Ganapathi), a Velama, and Keshav Rao, from a Backward Class community. Sonu is a Brahmin.Sources from various frontal organisations said the Maoist party is expected to release an official statement confirming the leadership change soon.A native of Ambedkar Nagar in Korutla in Jagtial district, Tirupathi hails from the Madiga community and has a modest background. Now around 62 years old, he studied up to Intermediate before plunging into radical politics in the early 1980s.His activism began with the Radical Students Union in Karimnagar, where he was implicated in criminal cases following violent confrontations with ABVP activists. In 1983, he formally joined the CPI-ML (People’s War Group) and went underground, setting the stage for his decades-long ascent.Steady riseTirupathi’s career within the Maoist movement is marked by steady progression through key roles. Starting as a dalam member in Gadchiroli, he later served as an area and divisional commander, eventually holding significant positions in Dandakaranya.By 2001, he had been inducted into both the Maosits’ central committee and central military commission (CMC). His expertise extended to the central technical committee, and he was a key participant at major party congresses, including the 2007 Unity Congress.Known for his military acumen, Tirupathi edited the underground military publication “Awami Jung” and frequently issued communiques on behalf of the CMC. He was last traced operating from Maad, in Chhattisgarh, armed with an AK-47. He is fluent in Telugu, Hindi, and Gondi. The authorities have offered a Rs 25 lakh reward for information leading to his capture. Major setbacksThis leadership transition comes at a time when the Maoist party has faced substantial setbacks. The organisation suffered a major blow earlier this year with the killing of general secretary Keshav Rao on May 21 in Narayanpur, where 28 Maoists were slain.Intelligence agencies confirmed Tirupathi’s impending elevation following the interrogation of a surrendered Maoist, who had escaped another encounter on the Narayanpur-Dantewada border in Oct 2024 and later surrendered in Andhra Pradesh.Along with Tirupathi’s rise, Madvi Hidma, alias Santosh, has been appointed secretary of the Dandakaranya special zonal committee (DKSZC), it is learnt. Ramachandra Reddy and Takkalapalli Vasudeva Rao, alias Ashanna, were reportedly in the race for DKSZC secretary. Hidma ultimately secured the key post.
