The Communist Party of India (Maoist) has reportedly hit a rough patch, and has admitted that it the revolutionary movement is going through a 'difficult' phase.

Outlining how the senior leaders who were part of the Central Committe (CC) met in February to review the movement's progress, K Srinivas Reddy, editor of Telangana Today, writes that one of the resolutions passed in CC meeting admitted that things were 'difficult' and passing through a 'setback'.

This comes to light, even as news reached media outlets this week, that the General Secretary of the banned organisation, Muppala Lakshman Rao alias Ganapathi, may be on his way out.

It was also reported that Ganapathi was considering his second-in-command and fellow politburo member, Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavraj, as his successor.

The politburo is the highest decision making body of the CPI(Maoist) and consists of its most senior leaders.

Basavraj is also said to be the chief of the Central Military Commission (CMC). 

“There is a clear indication that the focus has now shifted to a military movement rather than an ideological movement. And in such a scenario, Basavraj fits the cap, as he has been heading the CMC, the strongest and only military wing of the CPI(Maoist), ever since its formation in 2004,” a senior officer in anti-Maoist operations told The Hindu.

According to reports, only seven of the 15-member politburo are active, while the remaining are either dead, surrendered or in jail. Similarly, less than 20 of the total 33 CC members were still operating.

In another piece for Telangana Today, Srinivas Reddy writes that the Maoists also have another major problem on their hands, as most members of the central leadership have turned old.

The article adds that seven of the 19-member CC are already above 60 years old and the suffering from various health issues.

With recruitment rates falling and 'veteran comrades' failing in their health, this could be a time of significant change, where the banned outfit may have to change its strategy.