Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday, 25 June 2026, declared that Odisha has achieved a historic milestone on the path toward becoming free of Left Wing Extremism, crediting the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the security strategy of Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the gains. The Chief Minister also reaffirmed the state government's commitment to rehabilitating surrendered Naxals and integrating them into mainstream society with dignity.

Context

Posting in Odia on 25 June 2026, CM Majhi wrote: 'ଶାନ୍ତି, ସୁରକ୍ଷା ଓ ବିକାଶର ପଥରେ ଆଗେଇ ଚାଲିଛି ଓଡ଼ିଶା' — 'Odisha is moving forward on the path of peace, security, and development.' He described the progress as a result of PM Modi's firm leadership and Home Minister Shah's successful strategy, calling it a 'historic achievement' in the direction of a Naxal-free Odisha. The post was accompanied by a video, suggesting an official communication or event context.

CM Majhi also stated that the government has opened 'new doors of hope' by committing to mainstream surrendered Naxals, provide them rehabilitation, and ensure they live with dignity — signalling a dual-track approach combining security operations with socio-economic integration.

Policy Backdrop

Since 2014, the Union government has pursued a coordinated national policy on Left Wing Extremism that combines security operations with development outreach and structured surrender-and-rehabilitation packages. Odisha, along with Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, has been a key theatre in this effort, given its significant tribal belt historically affected by Maoist insurgency.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has periodically reported declining violence and a reduction in LWE-affected districts across the country. Surrender-cum-rehabilitation incentives have been a consistent component of this strategy, offering former insurgents financial assistance, vocational training, and legal protection as pathways back into civil life.

Stakeholders and Impact

The most immediate beneficiaries of the policy shift, as highlighted by CM Majhi, are surrendered Naxals themselves — individuals who have laid down arms and are now seeking reintegration. Tribal communities in Odisha's interior districts, long caught between insurgent pressure and security operations, stand to gain from improved stability and development access.

Odisha Police and central paramilitary forces have been central to the operational gains referenced in the post. The Chief Minister's framing also signals a political message: that the BJP-led state government, in partnership with the Centre, is delivering on its internal-security mandate since CM Majhi took office in June 2024 as Odisha's first BJP Chief Minister.

What's Next

The government's stated commitment to rehabilitation will be tested by the implementation of state-level packages for recent surrenders — including housing, livelihood support, and legal assistance. Official data on the number of remaining LWE-affected police stations in Odisha and the pace of district-level de-notification will be closely watched as benchmarks of actual progress.

Broader success will depend on sustained development investment in tribal regions to address the socio-economic conditions that have historically fuelled extremist recruitment. CM Majhi's post signals that the state intends to keep this issue in the political foreground in the months ahead.