Adivasis to field independent candidate

Adivasis are angry with political parties for fielding candidates from the Lambada community from the Khanapur constituency (ST) while the seat has 24 per cent Adivasis against 12 per cent Lambadas.

The Adivasis have decided to field an unanimous candidate from the community as an Independent from the constituency in the next elections.

Members and leaders of Adivasi organisations on Saturday staged a dharna at the Indravelli martyrs memorial against fielding of Lambada candidates while neglecting Adivasi aspirants.

Thudumdebba leaders Purka Bapurao and Vedma Bojju, Kanaka Tukaram announced that they would conduct a public meeting with the Adivasis and leaders of Khanapur constituency at the Indravelli agriculture market committee grounds on September17 and decide on the candidate to be fielded by the community.

Mr Purka Bapurao said the Thudumdebba would pass a unanimous resolution in the meeting asking Adivasis not to support any Lambada candidate.

The AP High Court had earlier declared the election of TD MLA Suman Rathod from Khanapur (ST) as illegal and cancelled her Assembly seat stating thatshe she did not belong to the ST community. She had migrated to Adilabad after marrying Mr Ramesh Rathod from Maharashtra where she was considered as a BC.

There are many Adivasi leaders in the major parties in Khanapur but they were never considered for the elections, and the Congress, TD and the TRS fielded Lambada candidates. Adivasi leaders appealed to political parties to give tickets to their community and they would ensure their victory.