The Telangana Congress sprang a surprise at Secunderabad Cantonment by giving the ticket to the daughter of the late iconic balladeer Gaddar (Gummadi Vithal Rao) — Dr G Vennela – making her one of the 10 women on the list.
Gaddar’s songs were instrumental in motivating people to fight for a separate state. He was a former Maoist party ideologue and the state’s foremost Dalit revolutionary leader. He showed affinity towards the Congress later in his life, although he never joined the party.
Vennela feels that the grand old party can do for the people of Telangana what the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) could not deliver in the past nine years. Her name was announced three days ago and she is busy campaigning in the constituency.
“I was born and brought up in this area. I know what the main issues are and I am now meeting the people of the cantonment to know the concerns on the ground,” said Vennela, an MBA with a doctorate. “My father raised his voice whenever there was inequality. He motivated people to raise their voice against oppression. My father always believed that knowledge is a weapon. That is why I made education my priority and now I want to serve the people to take forward his legacy.”
“I will raise my voice wherever there is oppression. If I am elected to power, I will discharge all my responsibilities in the rightful manner.”
Vennela has been taking care of the school that her parents established in Alwal for the past 10 years. Talking about the main issues in the constituency, she said: “There are drainage problems in the area. It has become a dumping yard which gives rise to diseases. There are drinking water problems. People who are living here for 50-60 years don’t have pattas. Cantonment is called mini India and different groups of people have their unique concerns. I am meeting them all and assuring that our party will do everything to solve them.”
When asked why her father fell out with Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR), she said: “He spoke about KCR from his own experiences and I was not privy to the reasons. As I am an educated person, I am not going to level baseless allegations like other politicians do. However, my father used to feel that the basic needs of the people have to be fulfilled and the chief minister should take up that responsibility. Land, unemployment and water scarcity still plague the state.”
When asked about TSPSC aspirant Pravalika’s suicide, she added: “It is a very sad incident. Her death shows how frustrated the youth are. It is the job of the leaders to give a voice to these youngsters and tell them never to give up.”
She also feels that the BRS has not done enough for Dalits. “The welfare schemes are yet to reach all people. Lack of access to educational and health facilities are major issues among Dalits. I believe that Congress’ SC/ST declaration will uplift the lives of members from marginalised communities. If you look at the history of the state, the Congress has always fared better in providing water, houses and other facilities to the downtrodden people,” she added.
“I am determined to make a change in the society. That is why I am leaving my two young children at home and dedicating my time to the people of the constituency,” she said.
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