Fresh from the success of their efforts to draw attention to their plight by filing bulk nominations from Nizamabad during Telangana elections, Turmeric farmers now plan to use the same strategy in Varanasi.
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178 farmers had filed nominations from Nizamabad to demand a higher price for turmeric and red jowar crops. Now led by the All India Tureric Farmers Association, farmers including women and members of Scheduled castes from Amoor, Balkonda and Nizamabad areas will leave for Varanasi on April 25. They will also be joined by farmers from Erode in Tamil Nadu.
Varanasi is the constituency of PM Narendra Modi. The farmers are enlisting the support of local Varanasi farmers to contest elections as well as donors to pay for deposits.
Association’s president PK Deivasigamani told Hindustan Times, “The farmers will be filing the papers on April 29. We are mobilising the support of local farmers for the nominations. Each contestant requires the signatures of at least 10 locals.”
There are also reports of a possible similar campaign in Wayanad from where Rahul Gandhi is contesting his second seat.