The one hundred and seventy nine farmers who contested election to Nizamabad parliamentary constituency as Independents in a show of resentment threw up their arms much before polling began on Thursday morning.
They are however a satisfied lot that they grabbed national attention to their demands for constitution of turmeric board in Nizamabad and minimum support price of ₹ 15,000 a quintal to turmeric and ₹ 2,500 a quintal to red jowar. The two crops are extensively grown in six out of seven segments of the constituency, barring Urban Nizamabad.
‘Honoured’ by Collector
A jubilant candidate, Alluri Anil Kumar Reddy, told The Hindu sitting on a platform outside the polling station at Vallur village near Metpally that he felt honoured to have been addressed “sir” by the Collector when he attended an election meeting. Otherwise, he took lathi blows of police at demonstrations to highlight demands of farmers.
He said that but for threats of local leaders of Telangana Rashtra Samithi, about three hundred more farmers would have contested polls.
Threats and fine
One farmer Nalla Vinod of Vallur withdrew from contest due to threats and he had to pay up a fine of ₹ 35,000 to Rytu Ikyta, an umbrella body of farmers which was behind the protest.
Nalla Bhavanna and Ganna Laxman of Jakranpally, both of whom also contested, said it was not only candidates that TRS leaders threatened but their polling agents. So, they did not get agents.
Threats were made out that all government benefits accruing to the candidates will be stopped in next five years if they did not withdrew. They were also told that their lands will be taken over by government and distributed to poor.
To ward off the threats, the candidates have switched off their mobile phones in the past few days. They did not take up any campaign, much less going to the notice of public that they were candidates.
On the other hand, those who did not take lead in the movement like Nomula Mohan Reddy were unfazed. He attended to his agricultural work as usual, cast vote in his native Vannel (B) village of Balkonda mandal and returned home to rest.
“It will be a loss of face”
Roads and Buildings Minister V. Prashant Reddy toured extensively in the constituency telling TRS workers that it will be a loss of face for him before the Chief Minister if he cannot ensure the victory of TRS candidate K. Kavitha.
The deposit amount for filing nominations which was ₹ 25,000 for general category and ₹ 12,500 for SCs and STs was paid by caste organisations and individuals in some cases.