NIZAMABAD: As many as 242 farmers have filed their nomination papers from the Nizamabad parliamentary constituency, the highest number in the country in the first phase of general elections.
The farmers are using their nominations to highlight their plight over the lack of remunerative prices for turmeric, red jowar and sugarcane.
The constituency is represented by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter Kalvakuntla Kavitha, who filed her nomination papers for contesting a second time. In addition, TRS MP D. Srinivas’s son Dharmapuri Arvind filed his papers as a BJP nominee and former MP Madhu Goud Yashki as a Congress candidate.
A large number of farmers wearing their distinctive green from the district and Jagtial queued up to file their papers at the collectorate. Police had clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 during the nominations process and personnel were deployed in force.
The farmers had to pay a security deposit of `25,000 each, which they collected from every household in their respective villages.
TRS leaders spent the last two days trying to convince the farmers not to enter the fray. A few farmers went back after this but others came forward and and filed their papers as planned.
Speaking to DC, Mr Raju, young farmer from Pipri in Armoor mandal, said their pleas for remunerative prices and constitution of a Turmeric Board had been ignored.
“Why should we honour the word of the ruling party leaders at end of the nomination period, he asked. “We are not depending on welfare.”
