Hyderabad: A deepening rift within the Communist Party of India (Maoist) has come into the open, as the party’s political chief, Mallojula Venugopal, also known as Sonu or Abhay, is believed to have challenged the Telangana state committee over its insistence on continuing armed operations.A letter purportedly issued by Abhay has intensified tensions between the party’s political and military wings, exposing cracks in the underground organisation that could redefine its future strategy.According to Telangana police’s Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) sources, Venugopal is not alone. Senior leaders, including Ashanna alias Thakkalapalli Vasudeva Rao and members of the east regional bureau (ERB) operating in Jharkhand, have reportedly expressed support, highlighting the widening divide between political and military lines.The military wing, led by Devji alias Tippiri Tirupati, continues to advocate prolonged armed resistance, leaving cadres caught between conflicting directives, it is alleged.In his purported statement from Hyderabad, Abhay condemned the Telangana committee for rejecting his call for a “temporary cessation of armed struggle,” describing their stance as “politically narrow” and inconsistent with the party’s evolving needs. The statement followed a Sept 19 letter from Telangana committee spokesperson Jagan, who is believed to have argued for continuing armed actions.“Jagan need not emphasise that the decision was not unanimous. His hurried statement itself goes against party organisational norms,” Abhay is believed to have said. He noted that while some central committee members rejected dialogue in Nov 2024, the Telangana unit had later indicated readiness for talks in March 2025, revealing internal contradictions.Rejecting Jagan’s suggestion that he could surrender, Abhay reportedly remarked, “Speaking about my surrender instead of addressing the political content of my appeal shows immaturity. My 22-page appeal to cadres summarised the politburo’s August 2024 circular, which we failed to implement over the past year. The reality is that a temporary suspension of armed struggle has become inevitable.”Call for strategic adaptationAbhay is also believed to have argued that the protracted people’s war is no longer sustainable. “For more than two decades, we were unable to sustain revolutionary work in Telangana. Each time, we retreated after heavy losses. Even the current six-month ceasefire with the Telangana govt will expire soon. We cannot continue like this indefinitely,” he reportedly said.He seemed to have clarified that his previous release with a personal photograph and email address aimed to avoid confusion, dismissing speculation of police links. “If I quit, Jagan would have been the first to state it,” he reportedly said.Urging cadres to focus on building mass support rather than armed actions, Abhay is believed to have advised Jagan to revisit the Andhra Pradesh state committee’s 1977 resolution that once guided the party’s reassessment.“Ceasefire proposals by leaders in Telangana, Jharkhand, and others were aimed at saving the party, not personal survival. We must adapt to changed conditions and strive for the revival of the Telangana movement,” Abhay reportedly said, signalling a potential shift in the party’s decades-old approach.
