The ‘tribal’ population of Central–Eastern India presently constitutes the primary social base of the Naxal movement. Further, the movement is based on the principle of violent revolution rather than non-violent methods of politics. As a movement with popular base, the Naxalite movement exposes the irony of development in Central–Eastern India. Rich in forest and mineral resource, the majority of the ‘tribal’ population of the area have benefited little from the twin resources. Two aspects of the twin resource use needs to be emphasized in this regard. Firstly, with regard to extraction of mineral resource (such as iron ore or copper), the role of the private sector has been significant, especially since the 1980s. The result of mineral exploration and extraction in the area has been twofold. It has led to destruction of quality of soil for agriculture and gainful employment for the local population in the industrial exploration and extraction has been minimal. The area continues to be one of the major supply zones of migrant labour in India.

As a result, there has been a massive pauperization of the local people in the area. The other resource, i.e. forest, constituted a major component of livelihood strategies of the population of the area. However, two hurdles have emerged in the use of forest as resource for the people. Firstly, expansion of the mineral industry has led to depletion of forest resource. Secondly, forest conservation has limited the access of forest as traditional resource for the local people. This process too has led to the impoverishment of the local people and thereby contributing to becoming the supply zone of migrant labour. It is in this context that the Naxal movement needs to be understood. The Naxal movement is generally referred to as class politics