Left candidate jumpstarts poll campaign

Vinod, who hails from Mamnoor village on the suburbs of Warangal, is the principal of PG College of Law, Osmania University. Besides being a social activist, he is the convener of the Telangana Samajika Vedika

Warangal: While major parties, such as the TRS, Congress and Telugu Desam-BJP combine are still grappling with the difficulty of finalising their candidates for the Warangal Lok Sabha (SC reserved) byelection, the Left Parties-sponsored candidate has already embarked on the task of garnering the support of people across the constituency, besides mobilising the Left wing cadres.

Ever since the Speaker accepted the resignation of Kadiyam Srihari from the Warangal Lok Sabha seat on July 21, several leaders of major political parties, who were aspiring to contest for the seat, are on tenterhooks waiting for the announcement of the Election Commission (EC).

Initially, it was believed that the EC would announce the bypoll along with the Bihar elections, but it was not to be. It may be mentioned here that Warangal Lok Sabha seat has become vacant after Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari, who represented the constituency, was elected to the Legislative Council.

It is almost four weeks since the leaders of the 10 Left Parties announced Prof Gali Vinod Kumar, a professor of Osmania University, as their candidate for the seat, after their efforts to persuade balladeer Gadar to contest the bypoll proved futile.

Vinod, who hails from Mamnoor village on the suburbs of Warangal, is the principal of PG College of Law, Osmania University. Besides being a social activist, he is the convener of the Telangana Samajika Vedika.

Since his name was announced, Vinod is on a mission to garner the support of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes communities and various social classes in all the seven Assembly segments that fall under the Lok Sabha seat. He also has undertaken a three-day deeksha (fast) in protest against the State government’s indifference towards Tadwai encounter and farmers’ suicides.

Besides, setting up party’s election offices across the constituency, he already has appointed the booth committees, each consisting of 10 members belonging to Left Parties and other social organisations in Palakurthy, Station Ghanpur and Warangal (West) segments.

Speaking to The Hans India, Vinod revealed his plans: “I am planning to file my nomination papers on November 2 or 3. Thereafter, a door-to-door campaign will be launched from November 9 to 19. Before that I am going to release my manifesto on October 27” He is also targeting the young demographic using the social media platform. He created a facebook account - Vote 4 Professor Vinod Kumar and WhatsApp account -Warangal Warriors.

It’s learnt that he is also planning ‘Chalo Warangal’ rally by involving students from Hyderabad to Warangal and Bus Yatras of Left Party leaders.

It may be noted here that notification for the byelection will be issued on October 28, the last date for filing nominations will be November 4, scrutiny on November 5, withdrawal of nominations on November 7, polling on November 21 and counting of votes on November 24.

Adepu Mahender