Expelled Maoists accuse Politburo Member Balraj of ‘separatism’

 

 

 

 

After one-third of the Central Committee of Communist Party of India (Maoist) neutralised over the past couple of years, and some arrested, panic appears to be building up within the Red terrorist organisation. Now, accusing him of ‘opportunism’ and ‘separatist tendencies’, CPI (Maoist) has expelled Balraj -- Bachcha Prasad Singh -- from the party. This is significant considering that Balraj was a Politburo Member. CPI (Maoist) has accused Bachcha Prasad Singh alias Balraj of violating the ‘party norms’, resorting to ‘opportunism’, and harbouring ‘separatist tendencies’. In 2003, Balraj was Central Committee member of Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI). In September 2004, after the merger of MCCI and CPI-ML (Peoples War), he became Central Committee member of newly formed CPI (Maoist). In 2007, during the 9th Unity Congress of CPI (Maoist), he was chosen as Politburo member. He also operated as North Regional Bureau member.

 

In 2009, he was arrested. Now, the Maoists have blamed his violation of ‘clandestine operations norms’ and maintaining relations with family members as the reasons behind his arrest. “He was released from jail in 2016 but was re-arrested due to flaws in his behaviour,” stated Abhay, Spokesperson of Central Committee of CPI (Maoist), in a letter issued on November 15. In the said letter, the Red terrorists have accused Balraj of calling meeting of ‘comrades operating in North Region’ from North Bihar, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Haryana and attempting to form ‘a parallel centre’. Besides, the Maoists have alleged that Balraj made ‘serious and wrong’ accusations against ‘the party and leadership’. In 2021, the party general secretary issued a ‘show cause notice’ to Balraj and had warned him of ‘disciplinary action’. He did not respond to it. After a long period of tiff between Balraj and CPI (Maoist) leadership, the latter finally adopted a resolution in the Central Committee’s 8th meeting to expel him from the party. For the past few years, with concerted efforts of the security forces, the Maoist terrorists have faced several reverses. The top leadership of Maoists also is in tatters.

 

Two years ago, in November 2021, their Central Committee member Milind Teltumbde alias Deepak was killed in an encounter in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. The Central Committee, which had 30+ members a decade ago, presently has been reduced to 20+. Similarly, the highest political decision-making body -- Politburo -- of CPI (Maoist) has dwindled in strength from 12 members to six. According to sources tracking the Maoist menace, the Red terrorists are finding it difficult to fill in the vacancies in Central Committee as well as Politburo. All this is having a deep impact on the Maoist organisation and leadership. As a result, some of the senior leaders have started adopting a stand different from the dominant view of CPI (Maoist). Many have expressed their dissenting opinion, and have also resorted to criticism of certain aspects of CPI (Maoist). Hence, the CPI (Maoist) which is averse to criticism and dissent, has expelled some of its senior leaders. In the past few years, the Maoists have expelled former Politburo member Kobad Ghandy, Sabyasachi Panda, and Sudhakar. The crisis of organisation and leadership is haunting CPI (Maoist), as is visible from these expulsions.