Farmers: A little Bit Opposition

• Congress not thrilled with the GP results
• Farmers unhappiness reflects results
• Urea irritates peasants
• Poor payments of Rythu Bandhu disappoint farmers
• Loan waive not given to all farmers
• Prime Post Pointers to GP results

Adapa Dora

Congress and its leaders are not so happy with the first phase gram panchayat elections that were held on December 11 in Telangana. Though the party candidates won in a majority of gram panchayats, the results were not on the expected lines of the party.

TPCC chief Mahesh Kumar Goud stated on various occasions that the party would win in 99 percent of local bodies. The results of the first phase are far from their expectations. Congress party candidates were elected in 67.94 percent of gram panchayats against 27.44 percent for BRS and 4.61 percent for BJP. Elections to 4227 GPs in the first phase took place in Telangana, and Congress candidates won in 2872 GPs, BRS in 1160, and BJP in 195 GPs. The elections were not held on party lines, but the political parties selected their candidates for the polls. It is a common practice in local bodies.

According to Prime Post feedback from rural areas, many of the farmers voted against the Congress due to the non-serious attitude of the State government on their issues.

Firstly, the government did not tackle the urea issue in a perfect manner. Instead of solving the issue or convincing the farmers on it, the Ministers and party leaders heckled the farmers, insulting those who were in queue lines for urea. Surprisingly, the farmers associated with Congress took part in the dharnas demanding urea.

Secondly, the Rythu Bandhu payments witnessed an irrational pattern after Congress came to power. The current Congress government in Telangana, effective from January 26, 2025, offers an increased investment support of Rs 6,000 per acre per season (total Rs 12,000 annually). The original Congress election promise was Rs 15,000 per acre annually, but this was adjusted due to financial constraints. Many of the farmers complained about not receiving the amount according to the crop seasons.

Thirdly, the loan waiver scheme promised by the Congress has not witnessed results on expected lines. Many of the farmers complained of not getting money even though they were eligible under the scheme. Many of the farmers, whose loans have not been waived, felt bad as some of the farmers in their habitations benefited with the scheme. Irregular power supply caused growing impatience among the farmers.

Minister for Panchayati Raj & Rural Development, Rural Water Supply, Women and Child Welfare Seethakka visited five times as part of the election campaign in Eturunagaram gram panchayat. But, the Congress candidate lost in Eturunagaram gram panchayat.

Congress former MLA from Bhadrachalam, P Veeraiah alleged that Congress leaders worked for the winning of opposition candidates in various gram panchayats in Charla mandal. Rebel candidates from Congress hit the winning chances of their own party candidates in nearly 100 gram panchayats in the first phase. In Errupalem mandal in Madhira assembly constituency, Congress rebel candidates won in Remidicharla, Pedagopavaram, and Errupalem gram panchayats.

Dora Adapa

Principle Correspondent, Prime Post

Adapa Dora, journalist cum farmer, proved his excellence in both the fields. While working in Andhra Bhoomi (Telugu Paper) and Deccan Chronicle, he forced a famous seed company to pay compensation to the maize farmers for crop loss due to the supply of spurious seeds to them. He wished to maintain harmony between tribals and non-tribals in the mandals of Bhadradri-Kothagudem district for the prosperous of both groups.