Undermining Constitutional Institutions: Is Congress following the Maoist model of parallel governance?

Over the past few years, opposition parties have repeatedly tried to erode public confidence in the country’s democratic and constitutional institutions. The way these efforts have unfolded increasingly suggests they are not merely isolated political reactions but part of a carefully orchestrated strategy. However, certain developments and examples that have emerged in recent days are particularly significant. They indicate that Congress and some opposition parties may be attempting to create parallel structures resembling the alternative governments and administrative systems that Maoists once operated in the forests under their control. This approach is deeply concerning. Rather than accepting the authority and legitimacy of established constitutional institutions, these forces increasingly appear inclined to create parallel platforms and mechanisms outside the constitutional framework. Maoists’ Declared Objective: Overthrowing Democracy Overthrowing the democratic system in India has been the declared objective of Maoists. They believe political power comes from the barrel of a gun. They seek to dismantle democracy and establish their own government through the force of arms. When Maoists consolidated their control over certain areas of Chhattisgarh’s Dandakaranya region and adjoining territories through violence and armed intimidation, they reportedly established what came to be known as the Janathana Sarkar. The fundamental objective behind establishing the Janathana Sarkar was to create a political, administrative, economic, and judicial authority parallel to the Indian state, in accordance with Maoist ideology. Put simply, the Maoists wanted their own government to function in rural and forest areas under their influence, replacing the authority of the Government of India. Through this arrangement, they sought to expand their sphere of influence gradually and ultimately pursue their larger strategy of capturing political power in the country. As mentioned earlier, the Janathana Sarkar experiment developed primarily in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh and the wider Dandakaranya area. The evolution of this Maoist parallel governance structure can be traced through the following developments: 1994: The Maoists began establishing village-level Gram Committees, also referred to in subsequent accounts as People’s Committees, in the Dandakaranya region. Late 1990s: These village-level committees expanded across areas under Maoist influence. By 1997–98, such bodies had become widespread in the region. 2001: The Maoists formalised the organisational framework of Revolutionary People’s Committees (RPCs) through a policy circular issued in April 2001. The committees subsequently came to be known as Janathana Sarkars, or people’s governments. June 1, 2004: The Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee of CPI (ML) [People’s War] issued a detailed policy programme for Janathana Sarkar, outlining its objectives, organisational framework and functions. The objectives of this parallel governing structure can be understood through the policy document issued by the Maoist organisation on June 1, 2004. Establishing a Parallel Political Authority The principal objective was to establish a political authority parallel to the Indian state. The Maoists wanted to replace the Indian Constitution and the existing government with their own political system. Their document described this proposed arrangement as a ‘New Democratic State’. According to their strategy, they first sought to establish their influence in villages and remote forest regions. Once their control in these areas became strong enough, they intended to transform them into what they called ‘Liberated Areas’. Under Janathana Sarkar, Jan Adalats were established at different levels. The Maoists called these bodies Praja Courts and operated them as part of their parallel system of authority. The Maoist policy document directly linked Janathana Sarkar with the expansion of the people’s war, the organisation of the People’s Army and the challenge to the armed strength of the Indian state. Thus, Janathana Sarkar was not merely an alternative arrangement for local administration. It was an integral component of the Maoist strategy to challenge and ultimately overthrow the Indian state. The Maoists also envisioned establishing a ‘Red Corridor’ stretching from Tirupati to Pashupatinath. During the Congress-led UPA regime, the Maoists achieved considerable progress towards some of these objectives. This was because individuals sympathetic to the Maoist movement held advisory positions in the government and ensured that no major action was taken against the Maoists. One example may help put the situation into perspective. Dr Binayak Sen, who had been convicted by a court in a case involving allegations of links with Maoists, was appointed in 2011 as a member of the Steering Committee on Health constituted by the Planning Commission under the UPA government. Decisive Action Against Red-Terrorism Under PM Modi After Narendra Modi came to power at the Centre, and particularly after Amit Shah assumed responsibility as Union Home Minister, a decisive battle against these red terror forces began. Union Home Minister Amit Shah set March 31, 2026, as the deadline for eliminating red terrorism from the country. Better coordination among various state governments, state police forces engaged in anti-Maoist operations, and different security agencies enabled the campaign to make significant progress. By the stipulated deadline, most Maoist leaders in various states had either been eliminated or surrendered. On March 31, 2026, the Government of India declared that the country had achieved LWE-free status. Under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the government has eliminated Maoism in the forests. However, those who provided ideological and intellectual support to the movement remain active. These intellectual Naxals may not carry guns, but their fundamental objective is the capture of the Indian state. They are pursuing this objective through methods different from those adopted by armed Maoists. Similarities Between the Maoist Model and the Congress-Led Political Campaigns The question now is whether opposition parties, particularly the Congress, the principal opposition party, which has consistently tried to create distrust in the country’s constitutional institutions, are gradually adopting the Maoist model. The developments surrounding the symbolic ‘Jan Mahabhiyog’ held in New Delhi on October 31, 2026, deserve particular attention in this context. At the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, 215 MPs from 19 political parties participated in the event. Rahul Gandhi also addressed the gathering. The exercise was called ‘Jan Mahabhiyog’ (People’s Impeachment). The obvious question is: when the Constitution already provides a clearly defined procedure for impeachment and the removal of […]