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Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) People's War
Encyclopedia
Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) People's War, usually called People's War Group (PWG), was an underground communist party
in India
. It merged the Maoist Communist Centre of India to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist)
in 2004. Muppala Lakshmana Rao
('Ganapathi') was the general secretary of the party.
. It emerged out of a re-articulation of Naxalite activists in the Telangana
region. The party had its roots in the Andhra Committee, that had broken away from the Central Organising Committee, Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Party Unity
in 1976. The new party was formed by the merger with the Kothandaraman grouping in Tamil Nadu
. The new party resolved to continue armed struggle whilst engaging in mass movements. The party renounced participation in electoral politics. It upheld the legacy of Charu Majumdar
. The party analysed Indian society as semi-feudal and semi-colonial.
The party was initially largely confined to the Telangana region, but later expanded to other areas of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra
, Madhya Pradesh
and Orissa
.
, and after the merger CPI(ML)PW expanded its geographic scope of operations significantly. It began establishing state committees in states like Kerala
, Haryana
and Punjab.
In October 2002 CPI(ML)PW issued a declaration containing death threats against the Chief Minister of three Indian states; Buddhadev Bhattacharya, Chandrababu Naidu and Babulal Marandi
. Exactly a year later, the organization conducted an assassination attempt against Chandrababu Naidu.
On September 21 2004 CPI(ML)PW merged with Maoist Communist Centre of India to form Communist Party of India (Maoist)
.
In November 2004 a mass rally of some 150,000 people was held in Hyderabad in support of CPI(ML)PW (the merger into CPI(Maoist had not yet been made public at this point).
, Madhya Pradesh
and Orissa
to ban the party. The party remained unbanned at the national level, though.
In December 2004 CPI(ML)PW and all its front organisations were banned nationwide as a 'terrorist organisation' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004.
In 2004 CPI(ML)PW was part of peace talks with the Andhra Pradesh state government.
Between 2000 and 2001 there were several killings in conflicts between CPI(ML)PW and MCC in Orissa. However in September 2002, CPI(ML)PW and MCC signed an agreement to coordinate activities in the state. At the time Santosh was the head of the CPI(ML)PW unit in the state.
At the time of the April 2004 state assembly elections, CPI(ML)PW ran a boycott campaign in its strongholds in the state (the Malkangiri and Rayagada constituencies). However voting increased significantly in these constituencies in spite of boycott calls from CPI(ML)PW, leading to speculations whether the influence of the party was waning in the region.
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It merged the Maoist Communist Centre of India to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist)
Communist Party of India (Maoist)
The Communist Party of India is a Maoist political party in India which aims to overthrow the government of India through violent means. It was founded on 21 September 2004, through the merger of the People's War, and the Maoist Communist Centre . The merger was announced to the public on October...
in 2004. Muppala Lakshmana Rao
Muppala Lakshmana Rao
Muppalla Lakshmana Rao alias Ganapathy is present General Secretary of Communist Party of India . He was born in village Beerpur in Sarangapur mandal in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh. He worked as teacher in Karimnagar district and deserted his job for higher education in Warangal...
('Ganapathi') was the general secretary of the party.
History
The party was founded in Andhra Pradesh in 1980 by Kondapalli SeetharamaiahKondapalli Seetharamaiah
-Early life:Kondapalli Seetharamaiah was born into a rich family in lingavaram village, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. Brought up in Jonnapadu village, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh.-Political career:...
. It emerged out of a re-articulation of Naxalite activists in the Telangana
Telangana
Telangana is a region in the present state of Andhra Pradesh, India and formerly was part of Hyderabad state which was ruled by Nizam. It is bordered with the states of Maharashtra on the north and north-west, Karnataka on the west, Chattisgarh on the north-east and Orissa to the east...
region. The party had its roots in the Andhra Committee, that had broken away from the Central Organising Committee, Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Party Unity
Central Organising Committee, Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Party Unity
The Central Organising Committee, Communist Party of India Party Unity, more commonly known as CPI Party Unity or simply Party Unity, was a communist party in India 1982-1998. N. Prasad was the general secretary of the party. Party Unity was the official organ of the party...
in 1976. The new party was formed by the merger with the Kothandaraman grouping in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. The new party resolved to continue armed struggle whilst engaging in mass movements. The party renounced participation in electoral politics. It upheld the legacy of Charu Majumdar
Charu Majumdar
Charu Majumdar was a communist revolutionary from India. Charu Majumdar's life is a story of "riches to rags". Born in a progressive landlord family in Siliguri in 1918, he not only dedicated his entire life to peasants' cause but also authored the historic 1968 Naxalbari uprising, the ideology...
. The party analysed Indian society as semi-feudal and semi-colonial.
The party was initially largely confined to the Telangana region, but later expanded to other areas of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
and Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
.
Recent History
In August 1998 CPI(ML) Party Unity merged with CPI(ML)PW. CPI(ML) Party Unity had been based in BiharBihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, and after the merger CPI(ML)PW expanded its geographic scope of operations significantly. It began establishing state committees in states like Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
and Punjab.
In October 2002 CPI(ML)PW issued a declaration containing death threats against the Chief Minister of three Indian states; Buddhadev Bhattacharya, Chandrababu Naidu and Babulal Marandi
Babulal Marandi
Babu Lal Marandi was the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand. He is the founder and national president of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha . He is the Member of Parliament from Koderma Lok Sabha constituency. He was the Minister of State, Forests & Environment, Govt...
. Exactly a year later, the organization conducted an assassination attempt against Chandrababu Naidu.
On September 21 2004 CPI(ML)PW merged with Maoist Communist Centre of India to form Communist Party of India (Maoist)
Communist Party of India (Maoist)
The Communist Party of India is a Maoist political party in India which aims to overthrow the government of India through violent means. It was founded on 21 September 2004, through the merger of the People's War, and the Maoist Communist Centre . The merger was announced to the public on October...
.
In November 2004 a mass rally of some 150,000 people was held in Hyderabad in support of CPI(ML)PW (the merger into CPI(Maoist had not yet been made public at this point).
Banning
In December 2004 CPI(ML)PW and all its front organisations were banned as a 'terrorist organisation' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004.Tactics
The armed squads of the party consisted of ten persons. The squads used encounters and landmines in confrontations with security forces.Bans
The party was banned in Andhra Pradesh in May 1992, under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act. In February 1992 the national Home Ministry requested the states of MaharashtraMaharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
and Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
to ban the party. The party remained unbanned at the national level, though.
In December 2004 CPI(ML)PW and all its front organisations were banned nationwide as a 'terrorist organisation' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004.
Andhra Pradesh
During the first two decades of its existence, the policies of the Andhra Pradesh state government vaciliated in its approach towards the party. At some points the state cracked down heavily on the party, at other points its approach was more concilliatory. The party was able to exploit political conflict between the two main political parties in Andhra Pradesh during the 1980s to its advantage, and both of these parties would seek support from CPI(ML)PW in times of local elections. The CPI(ML)PW would provide such help in exchange for release of prisoners and laxed pressure on the movement from the security forces. Moreover, the party was strengthened economically through "taxations" of forest contractors.In 2004 CPI(ML)PW was part of peace talks with the Andhra Pradesh state government.
Orissa
In February 1998 a police officer was killed in southern Orissa by CPI(ML)PW guerrillas. This was the first attack against Orissa Police by CPI(ML)PW fighters from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.Between 2000 and 2001 there were several killings in conflicts between CPI(ML)PW and MCC in Orissa. However in September 2002, CPI(ML)PW and MCC signed an agreement to coordinate activities in the state. At the time Santosh was the head of the CPI(ML)PW unit in the state.
At the time of the April 2004 state assembly elections, CPI(ML)PW ran a boycott campaign in its strongholds in the state (the Malkangiri and Rayagada constituencies). However voting increased significantly in these constituencies in spite of boycott calls from CPI(ML)PW, leading to speculations whether the influence of the party was waning in the region.
International linkages
The party was a member of Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organizations of South Asia (CCOMPOSA).External links
- People's March - Voice of Indian Revolution, publication close to PW
- People’s War Group (PWG), from South Asian Terrorism Portal
- Documentary on the history of the PWG (video)