In a clear indication of disillusionment with TRS rule in Telangana state, Left and other democratic forces are planning to take on the ruling party united in the ensuing by-election to the Warangal Lok Sabha constituency.They are contemplating to field a common candidate against the TRS nominee and probable choice is Gaddar, revolutionary balladeer, who quit the Maoist armed struggle path and joined the mainstream.
Gaddar, whose original name is Gummadi Vittal Rao, is the cultural icon of Telangana. Goddar, who started long back Jana Natya Mandali to propagate Maoist ideology, electrified the Telangana movement with his songs in the recent times. Gaddar has produced an army of folk singers and his public costume, red kanduva and gongadi, have become hallmark of cultural movement in Telugu states.
The Left forces think Gaddar is the right person to take on the TRS on the plank of achieving people’s Telangana. Though the balladeer’s mind on contesting the polls is not made apparent, state CPI state secretary Chada Venkat Reddy and CPM state secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram along with other left forces are hopeful of convincing Gaddar to contest the polls. They said they were in touch with him and the cultural icon had neither accepted nor rejected the proposal.
“The left parties are of the strong opinion that Gaddar would be the best choice particularly since the ruling TRS has become anti-people following the footsteps of the then Nizam and implementing destructive policies. Only a popular leader like Gaddar can give a real fight to the ruling party in the bye-election,” Chada said.
Gaddar comes from a political background which boycotts elections. He was associated with Maoist ideology. Though he no longer claims allegiance to the Maoist party now, he has not participated in any election so far. So, Gaddar participation in election will be a curious thing for all, including the Maoists themselves in the area. During the Telangana agitation Gaddar could not sail with TRS and floated a couple of organizations which could not flourish either.
But, he is one of the most popular faces of Telangana. There is no village which has not echoed with his songs and there is no youth who could not render his song in full in the state of Telangana.
