Maoist leaders in India have decided to enroll non resident Indians and foreigners living in India as members.

This is seen as a first major change in its strategy to widen their support base to intensify the armed struggle.

The Communist Party of India-Maoist, a banned outfit, considered powerful and active in several states in India, in its recently released new Constitution made it clear that it is in favour of enrolling NRIs and foreigners as members.

"An Indian residing in a foreign country who has all the necessary qualifications for party membership and a foreigner residing in in India permanently can be enrolled as members" the new constitution of the CPI-Maoist said.

A senior leader of CPI-M in Bihar told rediff.com in Patna on Thursday that hundreds of NRIs are sympathisers of the armed struggle of the party.

"In view of their keen interest to help and support us, the CPI-M has decided to enroll them as members," he said.

Interestingly, the CPI-Maoist is also in favour of recruiting children from the age of 16 as full time members, but the party is against admitting anyone from the exploiting clasess to the party.