Nizamabad LS constituency cynosure of all eyes

Hyderabad: All eyes are on Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency for which 245 nominations have been field. Farmers from 11 mandals are in electoral fray and they have alleged that pressure is being exerted on them by the ruling party in the State to withdraw from the race.

Except for candidates from three main parties-K Kavitha (TRS), Madhu Yashki Goud (Congress) and Dharmapuri Aravind (BJP), a majority of the candidates who filed nomination papers as independents are farmers. The Election Commission declared that in view of a big number of contestants in the fray it is keeping options open.

If the total candidates that remain in the fray after the closure of withdrawals on March 28 is less than 90, the polling would be held through EVMs or else ballot paper could be the only alternative.

An election on ballot paper is a tedious and cumbersome process as counting of votes would take a longer time, nearly two days before the result is declared. Nizamabad Lok Sabha comprises seven segments such as Armoor, Bodhan, Balkonda, Koratla, Jagtiyal, Nizamabad (Urban) and Nizamabad (Rural) and the total number of voters is nearly 15.5 lakh.

In order to ensure that votes are not split and to avoid the time-consuming process of ballot paper election, farmers are saying they are being asked to withdraw the nomination.

V Prabhakar, Telangana State secretary of AIKMS (All India Kisan Mazdoor Sangh) stated that farmers are determined to remain in the race even though pressures are coming from different quarters.

" This is not about winning or losing this election. The farmers' community is keen to ensure their voice is heard at the national level regarding turmeric and maize crops. Hence, a decision was taken to contest elections. It was decided to field two farmers from one village and accordingly nominations were filed," he said.

Farmers from Balkonda, Morthad, Mupkal, Kammarpalli, Bheemgal, Armoor, Sirikonda, Korutla, Metpalli and Jagtial mandals are in the fray.

Leaders from Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS), which has been supporting demands of farmers in Nizamabad segment said that the ruling party has asked 30 farmers aligned to the pink party, to file nominations and as per plan these farmers would hold a press meet before March 28 to announce their withdrawal from election and also reposing faith in TRS party to resolve their demands in the coming weeks.

Thus, they want to give an impression that farmers are backing the pink party, the leaders said.

Farmers want the government to ensure an MSP of Rs 3,500 per quintal for maize and Rs 15,000 per quintal for turmeric yield this year and also take steps to establish Turmeric Board in the erstwhile Nizamabad district.

They have been holding meetings, dharnas and road blockade programmes from February onwards to make their voices are heard by the government.