The fall of Basavaraj: A turning point in India's Maoist insurgency

Time of India

21-05-2025

Hyderabad: The death of
Nambala Keshava Rao
, alias
Basavaraj
, in Wednesday's encounter in Chhattisgarh marks a critical juncture in India's decades long
Maoist insurgency
.
At 70, Basavaraj was the general secretary of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), making him the highest-ranking leader ever killed in action.
His elimination in the Maoist stronghold of Maad division, deep in the Dandakaranya forest, is being hailed as a watershed moment by security agencies.
Srikakulam roots
Born in Jiyannapeta village of Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district, Basavaraj came from a middle class Kalinga family. A B Tech graduate from the Regional Engineering College (now NIT), Warangal, he was drawn into radical politics through the Radical Students Union (RSU) during his college days.
A 1979 campus clash with RSS members, which resulted in a student's death, led to Basavaraj being arrested and later jumping bail in 1980. He soon disappeared underground, beginning his revolutionary career in the tribal belts of the Andhra-Odisha border, organising peasant movements and laying the foundation for armed resistance. He formally entered the Maoist armed struggle with three country-made pistols and a mission to form the Rythu Coolie Sangham.
Architect of armed strategy
Joining the People's War Group in the 1980s, Basavaraj steadily rose as its chief military strategist. Between 1989 and 1990, he is believed to have trained in explosives and landmines under the LTTE. He used this expertise to train Maoist cadres and orchestrate large-scale attacks across Chhattisgarh and beyond.
In 2001, he became the head of the Central Military Commission, overseeing operations such as the 2003 Alipiri blast targeting then Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and the 2013 Jhiram Ghati ambush, which killed senior Congress leader Mahendra Karma and 25 others.
Always accompanied by his elite armed guard of 'Company 7,' Basavaraj was known to carry an AK-47 and was fluent in Telugu, Hindi, English, and Gondi.
After the 2004 merger of the People's War and Maoist Communist Centre, Basavaraj remained in the top echelons. He succeeded Muppala Lakshmana Rao (Ganapathy) as general secretary in 2018, after the latter stepped down citing health concerns.
Focus on militarisation
Unlike Ganapathy's cautious ideological approach, Basavaraj prioritised militarisation and rejected peace talks unless preceded by a complete state withdrawal.
He continued to direct operations from the forests of Maad, maintaining contact with both central and regional Maoist units.
Intelligence sources suggest he acted as a liaison with international extremist networks, allegedly travelling to Turkey, Peru, and Germany to establish foreign military ties.
Basavaraj's wife, Sharada, was a Maoist commander who died by suicide in 2010. His family in Andhra Pradesh, however, chose conventional lives — one brother is a vigilance officer in Visakhapatnam Port Trust, while others include a doctor, teachers, and a local politician.
This stark contrast reflects the ideological and personal dualities he embodied.
With a bounty of ₹25 lakh on his head in Andhra Pradesh alone, Basavaraj was among India's most wanted Maoist leaders.
Pivotal blow
Security agencies believe his death could destabilise the
Maoist leadership
, as he held multiple top positions—general secretary, politburo member, and Central Committee member. Telangana director general of police Jitender told TOI, "It's a big blow to Maoists and a major success for security forces in Chhattisgarh."
While Basavaraj's death closes a significant chapter, whether it signals the decline of the Maoist insurgency remains uncertain.