Former Maoist ideologue and revolutionary balladeer Gaddar has announced the formation of a new political party, the Gaddar Praja Party, in Telangana. The announcement was made a few months before the state’s Assembly elections. Gaddar submitted his application for the party’s registration to the Election Commission of India in New Delhi. Speaking to the media, he said that this party will be people-focused and committed to safeguarding the basic right to life enshrined in the Indian constitution. Gaddar said the party’s flag and agenda would be based on the people’s needs. When asked about his political aspirations, he confirmed he will contest in the upcoming elections although the constituency is yet to be decided.
Last year, Gaddar joined Praja Shanti Party (PSP) of evangelist K. A. Paul and campaigned for the party in the Munugode Assembly by-election. However, after announcing the formation of his own party, Paul suspended Gaddar from PSP, alleging that he had struck a deal with the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President Revanth Reddy. It was reported last year that Gaddar’s son, G.V. Surya Kiran, had already joined the Congress party. Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Bhatti Vikramarka had requested Gaddar to join the party and play an active role in politics.
Gaddar is a revolutionary singer and a past sympathizer of Naxalism, from his days at the Osmania University Engineering College during the Telangana agitation in the 1969-70s. He later went underground in the 1980s and founded Jana Natya Mandali, a travelling theatre group. Known for his soulful and melodious folk songs with simple lyrics, Gaddar attracted people, especially youth, towards Maoist ideology. During his time with the Maoist party, he strongly campaigned against electoral politics and called for a boycott of elections. In 2017, he gave up Maoism and declared himself Ambedkarite.
