Hyderabad: Telugu balladeer Gummadi Vittal Rao, popularly known as Gaddar, has decided after a lifetime spent fighting against democracy that the ballot is better than the bullet to address people’s problems.
In a quick switch, he decided to enter electoral politics just months after he registered himself as a voter for the first time.
Then, equally quickly, Gaddar, 70, decided to contest against TRS president and caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao from the Gajwel Assembly constituency, leading to criticism that he had colluded with the ruling party to split Opposition votes.
In an interview, Gaddar said, “My contesting against KCR is certain. I do not belong to the ruling party or the Opposition, I am an independent contestant.” He said he did not care about the criticism that his decision has evoked.
He said he would contest as an independent if the Mahakutami decided to field Congress leader Vanteru Pratap Reddy. He had earlier said he would contest against Mr Chandrasekhar Rao only if he was the unanimous candidate of the Opposition, before he broke rank and shocked the Mahakutami.
Gaddar said he would meet all Opposition leaders and request them for their support.
Excerpts from an interview with Gaddar
Q Why did you suddenly take a decision to contest in the Assembly elections?
For the first time, I got the voting right. I want to utilise my voter’s right. So, I decided to contest in the Assembly elections.
Q You had earlier said that you could contest only if all Opposition parties wanted you to.
People are bringing pressure on me, they are forcing me to contest. So I decided to fight with the autocratic KCR in Gajwel.
Q Are you sure about contesting from Gajwel?
Yes, I have asked my followers to complete the necessary formalities, they are on the job.
Q Did you meet Opposition leaders?
Yes, I will approach all Opposition leaders and request their support.
Q The Mahakutami has decided to field Vanteru Pratap Reddy as its candidate from Gajwel.
The Mahakutami or the Congress did not finalise its candidate. Why should I bother about other candidates? My contesting from Gajwel is certain.
Q Your contesting in Gajwel while there is a Mahakutami candidate may help caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
I am not interested in who will benefit and who will lose, I want to serve the people and I am contesting.
Q Are you not going to benefit the TRS by contesting in Gajwel?
I do not belong to the Opposition and I do not belong to the ruling party, I am an independent.
Q By contesting in Gajwel you may face criticism that you have colluded with the TRS.
I don’t care for such criticism, and I don’t want to reply also. People know what kind of a person Gaddar is. My agenda is the people’s agenda.
Q Why did you meet Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi?
Rahul Gandhi has taken up a ‘save democracy’ moment. To express my solidarity I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have already made it clear that I will not join any political party.
