Former Maoist ideologue and revolutionary balladeer Gaddar on Thursday said that he would contest as an independent candidate from the constituency of Gajwel in the upcoming election in Telangana. The seat is presently held by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Gaddar met Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr Rajat Kumar at the Secretariat in Hyderabad and said that he was planning to organise voting awareness campaigns across the state, beginning from November 15, and requested the Election Commission to provide him security for the same.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Gaddar said, "Since no party has come forward and I wish to move forward, I have decided to contest as an independent."
He added that he would unite all strong independent candidates who were contesting across the state and form an 'All Telangana Independent Candidates Association'.
Last month, Gaddar met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and said that if all opposition parties make a request to him to contest from Gajwel and ensure that the opposition votes are not divided, he will contest the election, scheduled to be held on December 7.
Gaddar said he did not belong to any party but would support any party to end what he called 'neo-feudalism' in Telangana. Stating that Telangana state was created with the sacrifices of martyrs, he said the change has not come in the state.
Gaddar, whose real name is Gummadi Vittal Rao, told reporters at Kamareddy that after 70 years he has enrolled himself as a voter and had now launched people's movement to end 'neo-feudalism'. This would be the first time that he would be casting his vote.
"My fight is to end autocratic rule and realise the dreams of the martyrs of Telangana," said Gaddar, who plans to campaign against TRS by singing "people's songs".
Telangana is all set to go to the polls on December 7. Counting will take place on December 11.