Amit Shah’s deadline to end Naxalism looming, Maoists make a request: Give time till Feb 15
Ask CMs of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh to stop combing operations in their respective states to facilitate “eventless surrender”
Written by Nikhila HenryUpdated: November 25, 2025 07:21 AM IST
4 min read
Whatsapp
twitter
Facebook
Reddit
The Maoist MMC committee has sought time until February 15, 2026 to suspend armed struggle and coordinate a collective surrender. (Express Photo)
Members of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) from three states have requested the union and state governments for time until February 15, 2026, to “temporarily suspend arms struggle”.
In a letter written by the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh special zonal committee, the Maoists have asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai and Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav to stop combing operations in their respective states to facilitate “eventless surrender”. The letter signed by Anant, spokesperson of the special zonal committee, was released on November 22 and became public on November 24.
In the letter, which is believed to have the support of the Central Committee of the Maoist party, Anant writes, “We support the recent decision taken by our party Central Committee and Politburo member Comrade Sonu to temporarily suspend the armed struggle by renouncing arms in view of changing circumstances in the country and the world.”
Anant’s reference was to a letter Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu wrote two months ago, in September, where he said that it is best to “stop the armed struggle” to “save the party”. Sonu himself surrendered before Fadnavis in October. This was followed by a spate of surrenders from within the Maoist ranks of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. Last week, top Naxal leader Madvi Hidma was killed in an encounter in Andhra Pradesh.
Anant’s letter cites the surrender of Central Committee member Pulluri Prasad Rao in Telangana and adds, “We, the MMC (Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh Special Zonal Committee), also want to renounce arms and accept the government’s rehabilitation programme. However, we ask the three state governments to give us time.” As the party believes in “democratic centralism”, which makes it mandatory for each wing to consult others, Anant has asked for time till February 15. “It will take some time to reach this decision collectively. We need time to consult our comrades and convey this message to them,” the letter reads.
Story continues below this ad
Anant reminded the Union government that February 15 is within the deadline given by the government to end Maoism – Home Minister Amit Shah has set a deadline of March 31, 2026, to end Naxalism in the country. “Till then, we request the three state governments to exercise some restraint and suspend the activities of their security forces,” the letter reads.
As a mark of faith, the Maoist party will not celebrate the formation of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army week on December 2, the letter reads. “Only with such efforts from both sides will a better atmosphere be created, and it will be possible for us to communicate with each other…We have no ulterior motive in asking for so much time…” Anant writes.
The letter also asks the government to broadcast the MMC’s decision to stop the armed struggle over the All India Radio. “This is the best way for our comrades to know the daily news from the country and the world… we have no other modes of communication,” the letter pointed out.
The letter follows another letter of the same order, written in September this year by the Central Committee of the party. “That letter requested the Union government for time to surrender. This letter has set a date,” an intelligence officer from Telangana said.
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
4 min read
