Overview
- An August 15 letter released on September 17 by senior leader Mallojula Venugopal Rao, known as Sonu, offered a temporary surrender of arms and said the party was ready for peace talks with the Centre.
- On September 19 the Telangana state committee said Sonu’s proposal was only his personal view, followed by a Central Committee–Politburo–DKZC letter branding his stance “treason” and ruling out laying down arms.
- Intelligence officials identify two camps, with Sonu advocating negotiations and General Secretary Thippiri Tirupathi, known as Devuji, backing continued armed struggle.
- Deccan Chronicle reports that Devuji, from Jagtial, took charge as general secretary earlier this month; both he and Sonu, from Peddapalli, carry Rs 1 crore bounties.
- The internal dispute comes after sustained security operations, leader losses and surrenders that have reduced the Central Committee to about 10 members, including recent family surrenders linked to Sonu.