After years of drought and crop loss, farmers in Mumbai-Karnataka will finally have their say this assembly polls; besides, the Lingayat issue as well as Mahadayi row will be other deciding factors in the region
HUBBALLI: Finally, the time for which the farmers have been waiting has arrived. The Mumbai-Karnataka region, where a large population depends on agriculture, has suffered repeated droughts resulting in continuous crop loss. Crop cultivated in irrigated areas, sugarcane in particular, did not fetch remunerative prices. So, it was a double whammy for farmers. Since both the central and the state administrations have not responded to their calls adequately, the farmers are now preparing to deliver their verdict in the upcoming assembly polls.
Issues pertaining to agriculture and farmers are almost always played out by political parties during elections. One to be recalled is the revolt of farmers from Nargund and Navalgund in 1980 against the then Congress government headed by R Gundu Rao opposing the collection of betterment levy of `1,500 per acre from Malaprabha Command area. This uprising, commonly known as Nargund Bandaya, not only opened the chapter of farmers’ movement in the state but also shook the Congress citadel in the region.
As this movement led to violence in the region, opposition parties, primarily Janata Party headed by H D Deve Gowda, exploited it optimally and, for the first time in Karnataka, a non-Congress government was formed. The political dynamics of the region kept changing after this. But farmers’ woes and issues related to agriculture remained the same. Public sentiments on these issues are being whipped up by parties during poll seasons only to be pushed to the backburner later.
Since sugarcane is the main cash crop cultivated across the region, the growers suffer every year. The sugar mills, largely controlled by political leaders, openly defy the minimum support prices fixed by governments. The governments boast of acting against the mills, but the lobby within it is so strong that they fail to protect farmers’ interests. The same is with the pricing of horticulture crops such as grapes and pomegranate. The issue is likely to be played out widely in Belagavi, Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts, which have a sizable number of seats.
Not bringing the vast arid land under irrigation has badly affected the agriculture sector. Under Upper Krishna and other micro-irrigation projects, the governments in the past have tried to widen the command area through a canal system, but they are inadequate. Despite getting the Supreme Court nod to increase the height of Alamatti dam to 524 feet, the government has not taken any considerable action. So, the state has failed to utilise its share of Krishna river water and lakhs of farmers are deprived of irrigation facilities. The opposition has made this an issue.
According to social activist Dr M C Sindur, unemployment is another issue haunting the region as it has remained industrially underdeveloped. As a result, a large number of trained youths are moving to metros for jobs. Since industrial infrastructure is not up to the mark, the region has failed to attract big companies. And with agriculture too not ensuring enough earnings, migration of labourers in large scale is being witnessed.
Mahadayi row has earned political significance too. This, along with communal issues such as Ram temple and attempt to hoist the National Flag at Hubballi Idgah Maidan in 1990s, gave a foothold to the BJP to spread its presence. By tying up with Janata Dal faction led by former chief minister Ramakrishna Hegde, the saffron party got acceptance among the Lingayats who are in large numbers here. The party saw a largescale crossover of Janata Parivar leaders into its fold after Hegde’s death.
The Lingayat sentiment was hurt when B S Yeddyurappa was betrayed by JD(S) in 2007. Then, BJP emerged a formidable force in 2008 by winning 36 out of 50 seats in the region and managed to form its first government in South India. With this, JD(S) lost relevance in the region.
However, Yeddyurappa’s exit from the BJP after being embroiled in corruption charges and a brief stay in jail, cost the party dearly and from the tally of 36, it slipped to just 13 in the 2013 election, helping the Congress regain lost ground. But his ‘Ghar Wapsi’ and Modi wave benefited the party in the 2014 Lok Sabha election and won all but one seat as the Lingayats firmly stood behind BJP.
The BJP is hoping to repeat this. But Siddaramaiah’s plan to split the BJP votes by recommending minority religion status to Lingayats has cast doubts over Yeddyurappa’s dominance in the community.
However, the Congress cannot rely only on the Lingayat issue. So, Siddaramaiah is hard-selling his welfare measures taken up during his tenure. Despite Siddaramaiah’s Lingayat card, the BJP still believes that the community will back it because of wider acceptance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Lingayat mutts are likely to play an important role on this issue.The Mahadayi issue is likely to haunt the BJP, but the latter refuses to admit that it can be a poll issue.
Key issues in the region
Border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra
No drought mitigation steps
Implementing next phase of Upper Krishna project
Kalasa-Banduri drinking water project
Industrial development
Stopping migration of labourers
Separate district status for Chikkodi
Expert Speaks
Government must lure firms to set shop here
The region has a huge potential to develop industrially, but unfortunately the Mumbai-Karnataka region has been totally neglected. The issue of developing industrial infrastructure has been left unattended for years. So, despite producing a large pool of talent, the region has failed to use them as there are no industries to employ them. The government should push for a public sector undertaking at every major city in the region. Since the atmosphere is congenial for investments in the manufacturing sector, anchor industries should be lured here so that ancillary industries get a boost. Since IT industries need small areas of land, companies such as TCS and Wipro should be lured to set up shops here. Employment intensive companies will help in the growth of trade and commerce in the cities. Moreover, it will stop migration of talented work force and labourers to other cities. In its effort to push this agenda, the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries has decided to call all top leaders of all the three parties shortly.
Ramesh Patil, industrialist and former president of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries
