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EXCLUSIVE: Maoists deny having general secretary, call claim of Devuji’s elevation ‘untrue’

The letter said the general secretary’s post is an elected one and the central committee, the decision-making body of the banned outfit, should choose the leader.

The letter, authenticated by Telangana intelligence sources, also accused Chandranna of giving up the armed struggle. (File Photo/Representatives)

The banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) has claimed in a fresh letter that it does not have a general secretary at present.

Earlier, the country’s intelligence agencies and surrendered Maoists had said that Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji was elevated to the role in September, after the death of Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju in a security offensive in May.

The letter, dated October 29 and signed by the outfit’s Odisha State Committee Secretary Paka Hanumanthu alias Ganesh, lashed out at Pulluri Prasada Rao alias Chandranna, who surrendered before Telangana Director General of Police B Shivadhar Reddy on Tuesday. Ganesh, representing the central committee, wrote: “Chandranna claimed that Comrade Devuji has been elevated to the role of General Secretary. But this is completely untrue.”

The letter said the general secretary’s post is an elected one and the central committee, the decision-making body of the banned outfit, should choose the leader. “After Comrade Basavaraju’s killing there was no meeting of the Central Committee,” Ganesh claimed.

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The letter, authenticated by Telangana intelligence sources, also accused Chandranna of giving up the armed struggle. “He said that he would like to work amidst the people and renounce arms. This is his opinion alone and not the party’s opinion,” it read.

Chandranna had given up arms after 45 years underground, during which he rose to the outfit’s Central Committee. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, he said: “Thippiri Tirupathi is the leader of the outfit. He is the general secretary.”

Among the senior-most CPI (Maoist) leaders from Telangana, active since the late 1970s, Chandranna surrendered citing health issues. His surrender comes as the outfit faces sustained counter-insurgency operations, high-profile surrenders, and the killings of senior leaders, even as the Centre’s March 2026 deadline to eradicate Left-Wing Extremism looms.

Nikhila Henry

Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice. Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India. Expertise & Focus Areas Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include: Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India. Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism. Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities. National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting. Authoritativeness & Trust A respected figure in Indian media, Nikhila is not only a seasoned reporter but also an accomplished author and editor. She authored the critically acclaimed book The Ferment: Youth Unrest in India and edited Caste is Not a Rumour, a collection of writings by Rohith Vemula. Her dual background in daily news reporting and long-form authorship allows her to provide readers with a nuanced, historically-informed perspective on contemporary Indian society. Find all stories by Nikhila Henry here. ... Read More

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