The reported death of Basavaraju, the top commander of India’s Naxal movement and General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist)’s Central Organising Committee (COC), in an encounter in Abhujmad, marks a significant blow to the extremist outfit.
Basavaraju assumed the role of General Secretary on October 2, 2018, succeeding Ganapathy. A close associate of Ganapathy and a guerrilla trained by the party’s first General Secretary, Seetaramayya, Basavaraju earlier served as the chief commander of the central military organization. However, political observers note that he lacked the political acumen required to lead the movement, contributing to its continued decline under his leadership.
Expert View
According to Dr. Girish Kant Pandey, defence expert and Principal of Kodu Ram Dalit College, Nawagarh, Bemetara, and former HoD, School of Studies in Defence, Govt Science College, Raipur:
“Basavaraju, aged 70, was always protected by a three-layered security cordon. The fact that security forces managed to breach these layers and neutralize the top Maoist commander is a remarkable achievement.”
Basavaraju’s death now raises serious questions about succession within the Maoist ranks. The organization currently faces a leadership vacuum, with very few prominent figures in the 40–50 age group. In the absence of viable successors, the group may be forced to bring back its former leader, Ganapathy, despite his deteriorating health.
