The interrogation of senior CPI (Maoist) leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao (70) alias Bhupati, alias Sonu who surrendered on Wednesday along with 60 more cadres in front of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has brought to light serious ideological and organisational fissures within the banned outfit.According to security sources involved with the interrogation, Bhupati told the officials, “Maoists party now is alienated from the masses.”He highlighted that over the years the party has strayed away from its core objective of creating a mass base and lost its impetus to excessive militarisation and violence.The Maoist party, the officials said according to Bhupati , in recent times have lost their best bastion which was the support of the masses. “The objectives of mass struggle and creating organised movements have not been realised even at local levels,” Bhupati revealed.Bhupati said the Maoist leadership’s opposition to people-centric government schemes such as PESA, Aadhaar, and subsidised solar energy programmes—all aimed at holistic tribal development—has created resentment among tribal communities.Bhupati said that even after raising these issues in senior level Maoist meetings, the top rung Maoist leadership have shown apathy towards actual development.According to his inputs, “the party has failed to realise that armed struggle is not the solution and this the time for rising mass voices within the framework of the Constitution”.Story continues below this adBhupati told the security officials that some factions within the Maoist party have begun exploiting the very people they once claimed to protect, serving their own vested interests and thereby demeaning the larger movement.He alleged that some officials of the CPI (Maoist) are operating under an undeclared ceasefire, while enjoying access to state resources and protection from “the lap of the officials” (Godi Maoists) — Godi meaning lap in Marathi, Bhupati said.According to Bhupati’s inputs to the officials, these elements have even targeted fellow party members while opposing his decision to surrender.“My decision to save adivasi cadres has been met with severe reactions from party elements, who do not have the best interests of revolutionaries in mind,” he told the officials.Story continues below this adPolice officials observed that a significant internal rift exists within the CPI (Maoist), with Bhupati advocating the creation of mass support bases and, later—following pressure from security forces—calling for a temporary cessation of armed struggle and strategic adaptation.In contrast, other leaders continue to insist on pursuing armed operations. Bhupati believes the protracted people’s war has become unsustainable due to heavy losses and the party’s alienation from the masses.His inputs also revealed that the party has been in “hard times” since 2011, with conditions worsening by 2020.Bhupati, the officials said, a senior leader, is considered reformist for supporting government policies like FRA (Forest Rights Act), PESA Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act and distribution of land pattas (land ownership document or title deed).Story continues below this adHis inputs also revealed that two factions have emerged, one led by Bhupati , Satish (T Vasudeo Rao), and Rajman Mandavi favoring peace talks, and another led by Deoji, Hidma, and Prabhakar opposing it.Bhupati revealed that over 70 cadres from Telangana are still associated with CPI (Maoist). Eight out of 12 Central Committee Members are from Telangana. He also hinted that a ceasefire is currently in place in Telangana which will last till ‘October end’.Bhupati also informed that Jagan, spokesperson for the Communist Party of India (Maoist) Telangana State Committee (TSC) criticised Bhupati’s decision to surrender.Bhupati accused him of overstepping authority, showing political immaturity, misunderstanding the party’s situation, and failing to recognise the need for reform within the CPI (Maoist).