Political parties jittery after Gaddar's move

Hyderabad: The move by Maoist sympathiser Gummidi Lakshman Rao, alias Gaddar, to launch a new Telangana party — titled "Telangana Praja Front" (TPF) — has become a cause for concern for all political parties, especially the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).

TPF, which will be formally unveiled by Gaddar and several other artistes and activists tomorrow, is seen as direct competition for TRS and its leader K. Chandrasekhara Rao — in light of a demand for a separate Telangana state.

Gaddar, known for his revolutionary songs — which are presented in an artistic style with a typical Telangana accent and dance routine — has already put TRS under pressure after a large section of workers and employees belomnging to the Singareni Collieries in Telangana region announced their support for his party.

Even as TRS anxiously discusses the possible repercussions of a new political party, leader Chandrasekhara Rao has refused to comment while keeping a close watch on the developments.

The new party will be formally launched tomorrow as part of a massive public gathering at the Nizam College in Hyderabad, where about two decades ago Gaddar had performed for the first time in front of thousands of people.

At the forefront

Since then Gaddar has been at the forefront of several movements and is also responsible for a Padyatra from Khammam to Adilabad, to protest against open cast coal mining and exploitation of natural resources of the region.

Gaddar said that he was forced to set up his own party as others had failed to take the Telangana movement to its logical conclusion.

"Is it not my duty to take the struggle forward", he asked.

He also targeted TRS and its leader for their failure to fulfil the promise. Some leaders are also hoping that the new party may be able to split the supporters of a Telangana state.