Poll fever at high pitch but Mahadayi forgotten

Hubballi: More than two-and-half months after launching their political outfit,  Jana Samanyara Paksha (JSP) at the pilgrimage centre of Kudalasangama in Bagalkot district, the Mahadayi farmers remain confused over contesting the coming assembly polls.

While many are discouraged by the money power of  the Congress and BJP, a few are preparing to contest against both national parties as independents instead of on a  JSP ticket.  

The fledgling political party  has not held any meeting to finalise its candidates or  discuss its political strategy against the Congress and BJP. There is also a lack of co-ordination among  farmer leaders, who feel that contesting against caste and personality-centric parties could be too big a challenge, although a few are conducting opinion polls to gauge the mood of voters in some constituencies like Hubballi-Dharwad Central which is represented by senior BJP leader, Jagadish Shettar.   

A leader of the Mahadayi farmers, Vikas Soppin admits it has become difficult to unite all agitators to fight the Assembly elections as political power  rests in the hands of a few families in North-Karnataka. “But we are still hopeful that we will teach  the major parties  a lesson by threatening the chances of their candidates in the region,” he says.

Dr Ayyappa,  president of the Jana Samanyara Paksha (JSP), is not giving up, either.  “We have provided the Mahadayi agitators a proper platform to fight for their cause  through the launch of this party  and highlight the failure of the Congress and BJP to resolve the water dispute.  But they are feeling helpless owing to the funds required and the dynastic politics we see all around here. I will convene a meeting of all those, who are willing to contest the polls, in the next two or three days and hopefully we will see a positive outcome,” he adds.