March 17: Many former Naxals, including those accused of murder and extortion, are now trying to get Assembly tickets from Praja Rajyam, Telangana Rashtra Samiti and other parties.
Aspirants include former Maoists and activists of Naxal groups such as Prajaprathighatana and Prajapantha. The Praja Rajyam has been actively wooing former Naxals in North Telangana and Palnadu area of Guntur to strengthen its base. Several former Naxals took part in meeting conducted on February 24 at LB Nagar by Chiranjeevi in which he promised to lift the ban on Maoists if he came to power.
“Former Naxals have asked for at least 10 seats from Praja Rajyam,” said Mr S. Sambasivarao, who worked for Naxal frontal groups of Guntur district.
One of them is Mr K. Seshagiri Rao alias Gopanna, a former Maoist leader who has come out of the TRS protesting the formation of Mahakutami. He is now demanding a ticket for Palakurthy constituency from Praja Rajyam for his wife, Mrs N. Manjula, who is also a former Maoist.
The former Naxals claim that cases were booked against them on their aliases and not on their real names. This means that technically there are no cases against them. Mr Gopanna is facing trial in the case relating to a blast at Maredumilli in East Godavari where five CRPF jawans were killed in 2001.
“There were five cases against me and I was acquitted in four,” said Mr Gopanna. “Technically there are no cases against my wife either.”
In Manthani in Karimngar district, a former Maoist Bakka Rao alias Bakkanna is trying for a ticket from Praja Rajyam. Similarly, Mr Goverdhan, who was a member of Prathighatana, is trying for TRS ticket from Bhoopalapally constituency and Ms Seetakka, a former Naxal, wants to contest on TD ticket from Mulugu.
Mr Suguna Rao, a former Maoist from Dachepally, is trying for Gurajala constituency and Mr Rayudu Nageswara Rao wants to contest for the PR from Kakinada-2 constituency.
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