Surrendered Maoist files papers for GP polls

Warangal: After a long stint of underground Naxal activity, former state secretary of Praja Pratighatana, G Raghupathi alias Mohananna has now jumped into electoral politics. A day after laying down arms before Warangal range DIG M Kantha Rao in Khammam, he filed nominations for the sarpanch post at his native village of Dharmaraopet on Saturday. He first claimed to support Congress nominee and then filed his own nomination. The former naxal speaking to press persons here on Sunday, stated that he would work for Congress party while expressing gratitude to government Chief Whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy for ensuring his safe surrender before the police.

Meanwhile, a total of 5959 nominations were filed for 944 gram panchayat sarpanch posts and 27,507 nominations for 9590 wards. In 39 villages, there were single nomination for sarpanch positions. Since there were no candidates available to the sarpanch positions which were reserved, there was no nomination to sarpanch position in DC Thanda in Wardhannapet mandal and at Nainala village in Nellikudur mandal. The last date for withdrawal is July 17 and first polling will be held on July 23. The second phase polling on July 27 and third on July 31.

On the last day on Saturday, scores of candidates queued up before the offices to file their nominations. The election personnel stayed late in the night receiving the nomination papers. In remote Tadvai mandal headquarters, over 50 candidates stood in queue for long time to file their nominations. In view of the huge rush for filing nominations, the officials were forced to work until mid-night for receiving the nominations. The officials at the district head quarters could not get the tally of the total of individuals contesting the polls even at 11 pm.

However it was said that since there was time for withdrawals, the competition might be reduced, yet there would be multi-cornered contests at majority places.