Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra was plagued by the Naxal movement for many years. Many factors, such as its remote location, lack of development, neglected tribal communities, vast forest area, and poor communication, made the district a fortified Naxal base for a long time, where control of the government was diminished by the overwhelming terror and violence of the Naxal army. However, the picture started changing slowly since the last ten years, with the unwavering resolve of Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Consistent anti-Naxalism campaigns under his leadership saw the waning of the Naxal movement in Gadchiroli and other places in Maharashtra, which is currently on the verge of extinction, with Maharashtra heading towards becoming a Naxalite-free state and leading the country in eradicating Naxalism.
Gadchiroli, a district in eastern Maharashtra rich in natural resources such as iron ore and forest produce, was defined by its 76% forest cover, Adivasi-dominated demographics, backwardness, and LWE (Left Wing Extremism) activities. There was hardly any development initiative for the district by the successive governments in the state, which further helped to increase the Maoistโs influence on the local population. It was under the leadership of the development man Devendra Fadnavis that the state government took a determined approach to free Gadchiroli of the left-wing extremism and set it on track for a comprehensive development. Together with the central Home department, the state government launched relentless anti-Naxalism campaigns and efforts to bring the Adivasis out of the grasp of Maoists through development and income.
The relentless actions of the central forces and state police against the LWEs over the years produced considerable improvement in the situation. A significant early Naxal surrender in Gadchiroli occurred in 2015, when 482 Naxalites surrendered in Maharashtra. The district has witnessed a series of surrenders since then, including a recent large-scale event in October 2025. The surrender programs, held in Gadchiroli, are part of the larger National Policy and Action Plan to Address Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), which combines security measures, development, and a surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy. The recent surrender of over 60 Naxalites, including Bhupati, is considered a major outcome of these efforts. To ensure the rehabilitation of these surrendered Naxalites, the government has planned special Naxalite rehabilitation programs, including employment, education, and socialization. At the same time, the Fadnavis government has taken several measures for the development of Gadchiroli district with special emphasis on Tribal Development in Gadchiroli.
On October 14, 2025, a Politburo member of the CPI(Maoist) Central Committee, Mallojula Venugopal Rao, alias Bhupati, along with over 60 Naxalites, surrendered in Gadchiroli in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Bhupati, one of the country’s most wanted Naxalite leaders carrying a bounty of โน6 crore, surrendered his gun and took up the Indian Constitution. This is a major breakthrough for Maharashtra and the country in the war against LWE. The strategy adopted by Devendra Fadnavis, based on the four principles of security, development, rehabilitation, and dialogue, has been yielding success. After Devendra Fadnavis assumed the Chief Ministership in 2014, he did not ignore Gadchiroli as a Naxal-affected district like his predecessors, but instead looked at the immense development possibility of the district and revenue for the state due to the rich minerals and forest resources of the district. Since he also held the responsibility of the Home Ministry, Gadchiroli received special attention.
Successfully implementing the two-pronged strategy
In 2022, alongside taking the responsibilities of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister of the state, he accepted the post of Guardian Minister of Gadchiroli. He still holds this position today. As Home Minister and Guardian Minister, he took a two-pronged approach for Gadchiroliโintensifying the police operation against the hardcore extremists on one side and having dialogue with local tribals and engaging them in the development process on the other. He strengthened C-60 commando units and conducted 24×7 surveillance and security operations in the forests. Besides deploying the NSG, Fadnavis also modernized the state police force with advanced arms, equipment, and training for carrying out anti-Maoist operations more effectively. It is also considered a masterstroke by him that he ordered mining operations at various places in this mineral-rich district simultaneously with anti-Naxal operations. The increasing mining activities contributed significantly to diminishing the Maoist support base by offering income opportunities to the tribal communities.
Rehabilitation of Surrendered Naxalites
The Fadnavis government, together with the central home department, worked out the Naxalite surrender program and instilled confidence in the rebels that the state government will extend rehabilitation to them in order to help them take up normal lives in the society. The rehabilitation of surrendered Naxalites, including providing them with employment, housing, and education for their children, was carefully planned and implemented. Strategic steps were taken to ensure that surrender was not merely an event but part of a process of social change. As part of the economic development of the district and rehabilitation of surrendered Maoists, Fadnavis started a strong campaign and initiatives for transforming Gadchiroli into a major steel hub based on its large reserve of high-quality iron ore. Seeing improvements in the ground situations and frequent surrenders of rebels, many steel and allied companies started setting up factories in Gadchiroli. A big name in the steel industry, Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd. (LMEL), which commissioned a DRI plant in Konsari, Gadchiroli, in 2023, recently announced its willingness to train and subsequently offer jobs to surrendered Naxalites in the districts. LMEL earlier had employed 68 surrendered Maoists and members of 14 families in the district, devastated by the Maoistsโ attacks.
Educational opportunities were expanded in Gadchiroli through Gondwana University, Curtin University, and the newly launched medical college. These efforts brought confidence and optimism among the tribal community and inspired them to shun the ideology of Naxalism.
Over 100 Naxalites surrendered in the presence of Devendra Fadnavis
Considering surrenders over the past 20 years, roughly 700 Naxalites have surrendered in Maharashtra between 2005 and 2025. In 2025, three large surrender events were held in the presence of Devendra Fadnavis. In the past one and a half years up to June 2025, 28 Naxalites were killed, 31 were arrested, and 44 surrendered. During the surrender ceremonies in June, collective weddings were held for 13 Naxalite couples. Then in October, another 60 Naxalites, along with a prominent leader, surrendered.
The gradual disappearance of Naxalism from Gadchiroli is a sign of a nationwide change. The initiative Devendra Fadnavis began in Maharashtra will, it is believed, form the foundation for the process of eliminating Naxalism across the country. It would not be wrong to say that the central governmentโs goal of eradicating Naxalism from the country by 2026 has effectively started with Maharashtra.