Balladeer Gaddar not to contest Lok Sabha byelection

 

The 10 Left parties led by the CPI and the CPM which have decided to field a combined candidate, had tried to ascertain the mind of Gaddar to field him as common candidate to take on the ruling TRS.

 

The Left parties seem to have got an assurance from the Telugu Desam and the Congress leaders, who have said in case Gaddar agrees to be the common Left candidate they are willing to cooperate in order to teach a lesson to the ruling party.

 

However, Gaddar is not inclined on the assertion that he has been treading the path of armed struggle to achieve a new form of democracy and is very much against the present parliamentary form of democracy. 

 

He even canvassed in public earlier to dissuade people from voting. When a few leaders from the Left parties contacted him and tried gauge his stand on being their joint candidate, he initially turned down their offer.  “How can I seek votes now when I had asked people not to vote for anyone and any party,” Gaddar reportedly told them.

 

When contacted, CPI state secretary, Chada Venkat Reddy, confirmed talking to Gaddar on the issue.  “We thought Gaddar would be the best candidate for the Warangal Lok Sabha by polls. He is from the region and he is the real face of the Telangana movement for many decades. Since we (the 10 Left parties) have decided to field only one candidate, it would be nice to have him. We are continuing our efforts and will also meet him to convince him within the next few days,” Mr Reddy said.

 

The CPI leader said the 10-party front had convened a meeting on Aug. 25 in Warangal to take stock of the situation and to announce their common candidate. “We hope Gaddar will agree by that time. We will continue our efforts,” Mr Reddy said.