Top Maoist Leader Kishenji's Widow, Underground For 43 Years, Surrenders; Know Her Activities

Hyderabad: Pothula Padmavathi alias Kalpana, the only female central committee member of CPI (Maoist), surrendered to Telangana police on Saturday due to health grounds.

Padmavathi, wife of slain Maoist leader Mallojula Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji, had been underground since 1982, and carried a reward of Rs 1 crore, including Rs 25,000 announced by Telangana government.

The 62-year-old Padmavathi, who operated under several other names like Mynabai, Mynakka and Sujatha, joined the mainstream in the presence of Telangana’s director general of police (DGP) Jithender.

“Her decision reflects a personal need to prioritise her well-being after decades of underground life. She expressed her intention to lead a normal life, take care of her health, and live peacefully with her family by availing the rehabilitation measures extended by the government,” the DGP said.

Jithender informed that Padmavathi was operating as south sub-zonal bureau secretary and in-charge of Janathana Sarkar, also known as Revolutionary People’s Committees of Maoist bases under the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC).

“In May 2025, due to deteriorating health, Padmavathi had expressed her desire to leave the CPI (Maoist) on health grounds and conveyed the same to the party through central committee member Pulluri Prasada Rao alias Chandranna,” the DGP said.

Born in a family of agriculturists in Penchikalpadu village, in Telangana’s Jogulamba Gadwal district, Padmavathi married senior Maoist leader Kishenji, who was a central committee member and secretary of the West Bengal state committee of CPI (Maoist).

Padmavathi joined the CPI (ML) People’s War Group in December 1982, inspired by her cousins — Patel Sudhakar Reddy aka Suryam, a central committee member who died in an encounter with police in 2009; Pothula Sudershan Reddy alias RK, a divisional committee member who died by drowning in Krishna river in the Nallamala forests; and the latter’s wife Suguna, who died in an exchange of fire with the police.

Padmavathi initially worked as a village campaigner. While working at the Peace Book Centre in Hyderabad’s Koti, she got acquainted with Kishenji, who was then Andhra Pradesh state committee secretary of CPI (ML) PWG. The two got married in 1984, and had a daughter. Kishenji was killed in an encounter in Burishol forest, in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district, in November 2011.

Padmavathi and Kishenji were transferred to Dandakaranya forest committee in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district in 1987.

In 2023, Padmavathi was inducted into the central committee as its first female member.

“We shall hand over the demand draft for Rs 25 lakh to her now that she has surrendered. In addition, she will receive further benefits in accordance with the Telangana government’s rehabilitation policy for surrendered cadres,” the DGP said.

Telangana Police termed her surrender a “moral victory”, pointing out that 404 Maoist cadres have surrendered this year.

“Lay down arms, return to your villages, and join the progress of Telangana,” DGP Jithender appealed to the remaining Maoists.