Ex-Maoist Politburo member Mallojula joins Gondwana University

Mallojula Venugopal, a former member of the Maoist Politburo, has been appointed as a temporary coordinator at Gondwana University's Village Council Capacity Building and Training Centre in Gadchiroli. The 70-year-old, also known by his aliases Bhupathi and Sonu, brings extensive knowledge and experience to the role, having served as CPI (Maoist) spokesperson since 2010.

Venugopal hails from a poor family, with both his father and grandfather being freedom fighters. He joined the People’s War Group in the 1980s and served as an ideological head and communication specialist for the Maoist organisation. Upon his appointment, Gondwana University Vice-Chancellor Prashant Bokare stated that Venugopal's qualifications and experience made him suitable for the position.

As coordinators, Venugopal and other new hires will visit villages across Gadchiroli to supervise Gram Sabhas and educate tribal communities about their rights under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) and forest-related laws. Venugopal, who surrendered to the police in October 2021 along with over 60 associates, expressed his intention to continue working for tribal communities even after his surrender.

He emphasized the importance of implementing constitutional provisions in tribal areas, noting that his opposition to PESA had prevented people from accessing legal benefits until 2020.