Nizamabad: The TRS was confident of the victory of its candidate Kalvakuntla Kavitha in in Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency as the farmers who have filed nominations in protest against the government for allegedly not ensuring reasonable prices for their produce were preparing to begin their campaign from Monday.
The farmers, mainly cultivators of turmeric and red jowar, will campaign in seven Assembly constituencies under the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency on Monday. The farmers have also decided to conduct bus yatras in villages to get votes for the independent candidates.
Expressing confidence about Ms Kavitha’s victory, a TRS leader said, “We are not bothered whether the Election Commission uses electronic voting machines or ballot papers for the MP elections.” During the Korutla byelection, people voted to power the TRS nominee with large majority despite using the ballot paper system, the leader said.
Minister for roads and buildings, transport, legislative affairs V. Prashanth Reddy is trying to meet farmers at their door steps in Balkonda Assembly constituency. He has already met farmers in Mendora, Bussapur and a few other villages, seeking support in the ensuing Parliament elections.
Of the total 185 candidates in the fray in Nizamabad, 179 are farmers contesting as independent candidates. Armoor town has become the epicentre for the farmers’ stir for remunerative prices for agriculture produce. Farmers voluntarily came forward to contest in the Parliament elections to highlight their plight.
These contestants have been collecting `500 as donation from each household for election-related expenses. The security deposits for the candidates were provided by farmers associations (rythu sangham). On the same lines, the bus yatra and other campaign expenses will be borne by all farmers in their respective villages.
Mr Bajanna, a farmer of Mamidipally village in Armoor mandal said that `1,600 per quintal of red jowar and `4,500 per quintal of turmeric was being offered in the open market. It should be at least `3,500 for red jowar and `10,000 for turmeric, he said.
The state government failed to react to the demand for remunerative price before the arrival of produce in the market, he said, adding that the farmers were contesting the elections without the support of any political party.
Give us 16 MPs if happy with TRS: Kavitha
TRS candidate for Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Sunday said `1,500 crore was additionally spent on pipeline works under Kaleshwa-ram lift irrigation works in the district. Following the plea of farmers, Chief Minister K. Chandra-sekhar Rao directed officials to lay pipelines instead of constructing canals as part of Kaleshwaram project, she said.
Ms Kavitha said farmers in Nizamabad Rural Assembly constituency were worried over the land acquisition for the Kaleshwaram project, but the TRS government alleviated their fears with alternative arrangements. “We are also planning to construct 2BHK houses and pensions for bidi workers. If you are happy about our work during the past five years, elect 16 TRS MPs in the state,” she said.
MLC V.G. Goud, former MLC Arikela Narsa Reddy, zilla parishad vice-chairperson G. Sumana Reddy were present in the campaign.
