Ever since Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) leader Nachika linga decided to give up his life in the jungle and work overground, he has become a target of the Maoists who are deeply worried about losing their grip over their five-year old base in the Narayanpatna area.
In a two-page letter issued on Sunday night, Daya and Aruna, leaders of the Srikakulam division of the outlawed CPI-Maoist have urged local tribal people to disown Nachika and oppose his plan to join electoral politics after striking a compromise with the establishment.
Terming it as a move to further his own personal ambitions at the cost of the larger interests of the local tribal people, the Maoist leaders have denounced Nachika’s reported plans to contest the 2014 general elections.
The letter said the Maoists supported Nachika linga and CMAS after they boycotted the 2009 general elections. However, Nachika betrayed them in 2012 when he took an active part in the three-tier panchayat elections.
“After winning all the seats they (CMAS) extended support to the BJD candidate for the Zilla Parishad chairman’s post after entering into an 10-point agreement with the Mass Education Minister Rabi Narayan Nanda and other BJD MlAs including the laxmipur MlA Jhina Hikaka,” the letter said. “Did it result in any change in the lives of the peopleIJ Did BJD fulfill the 10 demands they had promised toIJ” the letter asked.
Alleging that the elected sarpanches have gone missing and Zilla Parishad member Joru Mouka has become a ‘don’ in Damanjodi, the letter said it is not electoral politics but “people’s war” which is the only way out for the people to end their misery. The Maoists have asked people to boycott the ensuing polls.
Political observers in Koraput district said Nachika’s plans to surrender in a local court on March 11 would have made a great difference to the existing war-like situation in Narayanpana, but it failed to materialise partly because of the overzealous activists and the media and also partly due to overreaction by the security forces that particular day.
Informed sources said Nachika’s plan to go overground and fight as an Independent candidate for the laxmipur Assembly seat has been put on hold at the moment because he is “apprehensive” over how the Maoists, local people and the police are going to deal with him once he comes out of hiding. Nachika has been underground for over four years now.