Will Kishenji's successor be deadlier?

Molajula Koteswar Rao, alias Kishenji, politburo member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), the outlaw who for a while became a law unto himself in the Jangalmahal region was killed in a gun battle with the joint security forces in the Burisole forest in West Midnapore district on 24 November. During his tenure, Kishenji was famous for pronouncing a death sentence on former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and  terming  Mamata Banerjee as “opportunistic”

And while many feel that 58-year-old Kishenji’s death may be a crippling blow to the Maoist movement in eastern India, local officials say there are some strong contenders to succeed him.

According to a CNN-IBN report, the man topping the list is Kishenji’s brother Venugopal Rao, a central committee member — currently active on the Orissa-Andhra border. Another person in the race could be Asim Mindal alias Aakash, secretary of the party’s West Midnapore state unit, and also Mansaram Hembram alias Bikash, the only tribal in Bengal’s Maoist leadership. Arnab Dam alias Bikram and Ranjit Pal are also being seen as prominent contenders, from Purulia.

Despite being one of the most elusive Maoist leaders, his interactions with the media made Kishenji the face of the movement and the architect of its rapid growth. He came to be known to viewers as the man with the gaunt frame, automatic rifle slung over one shoulder, face covered with a trademark red-and-white-checked towel and his reedy, nasal voice.

He had been operating in West Bengal since 2001, but he came to the fore as the face of the movement after a failed assassination attempt on Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee near Lalgarh,  in November 2008.

Kishenji is said to have tome to Junglemahal to boost the morale of his cadres, but instead ended up being killed. After his death, who will lead his cadres and will they be as deadly?

Watch the CNN-IBN report on who may succeed Kishenji: