Khammam: An octogenarian has filed her nomination in Huzurnagar to expose the land mafia which is trying to encroach her patta land in Velgatur mandal in Suryapet district.
A. Laxminarasamma, 85, filed her nomination papers on Monday as an independent candidate. “My situation forced me to take the decision. I have chosen this way to protect my land,” she said after filing her papers.
Ms Laxminarasamma, a resident of Sobhana-drigudem under Chinta-lapalem, lives in Huzur-nagar with her children. Her father Achyutarama Sastry, a freedom fighter, had 179 acres in Velgatur in Chintalapalem mandal. He handed over 79 acres to the government under the land ceiling Act. The remaining land was distributed between his children. She said, “The land mafia eyed my land and tried to encro-ach on it. The mafia leaders threatened us to sell them the land at a low price or vacate it.” She said that her sons and daughters had met the officials to resolve the issue, but in vain.
“I have no intention to win the elections and chose it to expose my problem. People should know how an 85-year-old woman is facing hardships to protect her land,” she said.
When asked whether she can campaign in the election, she said that she only wants to highlight her issue. Her son Ravichandran said she filed her nomination in Huzurnagar only to expose their land problem. Leaders of the main political parties have started enquiring about her nomination.
