From bullet to ballot, the Praja Prathighatana leader, G. Raghupathi alias Mohananna, has come a long way.
On Saturday, he filed his nomination for the post of sarpanch in his native Dharmaraopet village in Mulug Ghanpur mandal here. “I experienced a lot of trouble during my 20 years of underground life. Now, I wish to be among people and do something. I respect democracy and want to be part of it,” he told The Hindu .
In all probability, he is likely to get elected. He mustered the support of people affiliated to the Congress and TRS. Efforts are being made to ensure his unanimous election and people in the village support the endeavour.
Mohananna said he had respect for democracy and was of the opinion that the ruling Congress party had introduced good welfare programmes for the people. “I want to ensure that the welfare programmes reach the targeted sections of society. I want to work for my village and make it a model village in the district,” he said.
Dharmaraopet village has little less than 3,000 families with nearly 2,500 voters. Of that, there are about 500 voters belonging to the SC community to which Mohananna belongs. The people in the village are confident of his victory.
Srinivas, a villager, said that Mohananna has a good name as he never interferes in village disputes. Unlike other underground, he owns a house in the village, has a voter identity card and a ration card as well.
Though the naxals, especially the Peoples’ War, which is now a Maoist party, oppose the elections and often give a call to boycott, some naxals after surrendering, choose the political career and succeed. The present Mulug MLA, Danasari Anasuya alias Sitakka, joined TDP after surrendering and then became an MLA. Mohananna has the blessings of Government Chief Whip G.V. Ramana Reddy who ensured his safe surrender and waived police cases against him
