The much-hyped joint operation against the Maoists is gasping for breath as the Red brigade is taking advantage of the lack of political will to reassert its supremacy. In the three districts — Rajnandgaon, Kanker (both in Chhattisgarh) and Gadchiroli (Maharashtra) — where the joint operation involving State police and Central forces started in December 2009, the Naxal menace continues unabated.