Lok Sabha elections 2019: 47 farmers in fray against KCR's daughter Kavitha on Nizamabad seat

HYDERABAD: A day after seven turmeric farmers had filed papers, 40 more growers filed nominations on Friday to test their luck from Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency from where CM's daughter Kalvakuntla Kavitha is seeking a re-election. But, there was drama as some farmers staged a dharna and shouted slogans complaining that they were denied from filing their papers while Kavitha who, they said came after them, was allowed to file hers.

Farmers stage dharna after not being allowed to file papers, while K Kavitha who, they said came after them, was allowed to file her nomination papers
In the run-up to filing of papers, the farmers had threatened to file a thousand nominations from Nizamabad to pour out their agony over the authorities' failure to ensure MSP for their produce. The farmers said some of them would file papers on March 25 when the nominations close.
Another batch of 100 growers reached the office of the Nizamabad LS returning officer by 3 pm but were not allowed to file nominations, leading to a dharna for about half and hour. Amid the protests, Kavitha filed her papers. "She was allowed to file her nomination, but the farmers who stood in line much before she came were turned away. Only 40 farmers filed nominations," A Saya Reddy, member of the Telangana Turmeric Farmers' Joint Action Committee, told TOI. Some 100 farmers complained that they were asked to leave by the officials on the grounds that they "came late".
Sources said former speaker of united Andhra Pradesh assembly and TRS leader KR Suresh Reddy sent a word to the protesting farmers that the state government is helpless and would not be able to increase the MSP but is willing to offer bonus for turmeric and jowar farmers.
The turmeric farmers said they sold their produce at Rs 2,300 a quintal last year whereas the MSP fixed for this year is only Rs 1,700 per quintal. "This is unacceptable. Instead of increasing the MSP, the state is luring us with bonusl," a protesting farmer Ganga Reddy told TOI. The government offered Rs 300 as bonus per a quintal of jowar. With regard to turmeric, the bonus amount is yet to be determined.