HYDERABAD: The central committee (CC) of the CPI (Maoist), the highest decision-making body of the banned insurgent group, has been reduced to just 18 members—its lowest strength ever what with the killing of general secretary Nambala Keshava Rao, alias Basavaraju, in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh, marking a critical blow to the group’s top leadership.When the CPI (Maoist) was formed on Sept 21, 2004, through the merger of the Maoist Communist Centre and People’s War, the CC was a formidable body with around 42 members. But two decades of sustained counter-insurgency operations, marked by targeted killings, high-profile arrests, and steady surrenders, have steadily eroded the Maoist leadership ranks.Today, the underground cadre strength is estimated at 2,000, with nearly 1,500 concentrated in Chhattisgarh, the group’s last major bastion. In comparison, states like Jharkhand and Odisha maintain smaller Maoist footprints, while Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra have seen a significant decline in insurgent activity. Most other states have been effectively cleared of any meaningful Maoist presence.Cadres disperse, morale hitAn intelligence official from Andhra Pradesh confirmed the trend. “Cadres in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are increasingly surrendering, largely out of fear for their safety if sent to Chhattisgarh, where operations are most intense,” he told TOI.Chhattisgarh remains the nerve centre of the Maoist movement, housing key leadership and the bulk of armed cadre. In contrast, Andhra Pradesh now hosts just 11 underground members, including CC member Gajarla Ravi, alias Uday. In Telangana, Operation Kagar has significantly dented Maoist presence, leaving around 75 cadres, mostly confined to border areas and led by Pulluri Prasad Rao, alias Chandranna.In Odisha, about 200 cadres operate under Malla Raji Reddy and Modem Balakrishna, while Jharkhand has around 250 active members, led by senior CC members Pathiram Manjhi and Misir Besra. The group is said to be avoiding offensive operations there, instead focusing on rebuilding and regaining lost ground.Former CC member Jinugu Narasimha Reddy, alias Jampanna, who surrendered in 2017, described the group’s current state as ‘deeply damaged.’ “The Centre is resorting to strikes instead of engaging in talks. The CPI (Maoist) has suffered immense losses, especially over the past year,” he told TOI. “I was part of internal reviews until 2017. Since 2010, the decline has been visible. Around 400 members and sympathisers were killed in the past year alone.Losing a general secretary who served for nearly 50 years is a massive setback,” he said.Jampanna, however, claimed that the organisation has internal mechanisms to manage attrition. “The party replaces CC members who are killed, arrested, or surrendered. There are veterans who have been part of the movement for 40 to 50 years, and promising juniors are also promoted swiftly,” he said. He also highlighted the advanced tactics used by paramilitary forces during the Karregutta encounter, including aerial bombardment, rope operations, and modern surveillance tools.Succession challengeThe four-member politburo, now consisting of Ganapathy, Sonu, Besra, and Devji, remains at the helm, while the central military commission is led by Devji, with Uday and Besra as members.Adding to the leadership vacuum, the recent arrests of Sanjay Deepak and BG Krishnamurthy from the Western Ghats special zonal committee have left the outfit further weakened. With its structure fractured, cadre base shrinking, and state action more aggressive than ever, the CPI (Maoist) finds itself at a defining moment.The upcoming succession decision—choosing a new general secretary—will be critical. It could shape whether the group can regroup and revive or continue its downward spiral amid an increasingly hostile operational environment, analysts point out.