The unique form of protest is their last-ditch attempt to highlight the government’s indifference to their problems.
Published Nov 19, 2023 | 1:00 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 19, 2023 | 8:16 PM
Gajwel independent candidates against CM KCR.
Siddipet district is Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s family turf. The constituencies of the BRS chief, his son KT Rama Rao, and nephew T Harish Rao fall in this district. KCR’s is the Gajwel constituency. For those who think the election result here is a foregone conclusion, 100 independent people filing nomination papers came as a surprise.
The nominations are an expression of anger, or resentment, or unhappiness.
Those with an issue with the Dharani portal, the BRS government’s much-hyped integrated land records management system, and hailing from Shankar Hills Welfare Association (SHWA) in Hyderabad, are in the majority.
The remaining independents have grouses over unemployment, farmers’ suicides, welfare schemes, and the pending relief and rehabilitation package of the lift irrigation projects Mallanna Sagar and Konda Pochamma reservoir.
But there was some rethink, apparently, as, on the last day of the withdrawal of nominations, 75 independents withdrew, leaving 44 in the fray.
South First was on the ground to understand why an ordinary citizen takes the big step of contesting against a two-time MLA, who also happens to be the chief minister of Telangana.
Over 100 candidates from the Hyderabad region, hailing from the Shankar Hills Welfare Association, filed their nominations in Gajwel as independents challenging KCR. However, out of 100 candidates, the Election Commission of India (ECI) rejected 30 affidavits on technical grounds, leaving 70 in the fray.
All 70 candidates from the association withdrew their nominations on the last day.
Asked why they filed nominations only to withdraw, Mudragalla Nageshwar Rao, an SHWA member who also filed and withdrew, explained to South First, “We have been facing illegal land occupation that surfaced due to the Dharani portal issue over our lands, which consist of 3,328 plots spread across 490 acres near Khairatabad, Hyderabad.”
Shankar Hills Association Lands in Hyderabad contested in Gajwel. (Supplied)
Nageshwar Rao refers to land in the financial district of Hyderabad that was purchased in the 1980s by their fathers and family members from farmers through sale deeds. However, construction was halted due to land survey issues and, still later, due to Government Order 111, which prohibits the construction of industries, residential colonies, hotels, etc, in the catchment area of the Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar lakes.
With the launch of the Dharani portal in 2020, passbooks were sent to farmers who sold the land some 35 years ago to the current board members of SHWA. The farmers, on receiving the passbooks, have allegedly sold the same lands to new private parties.
With the new parties commencing layout works, SHWA members have filed a case and urged the government to intervene.
“We have raised this issue multiple times, but no one paid heed. With over 100 people in the association, we filed nominations against KCR to draw attention to the problem. Minister Harish Rao assured us that he would resolve the issue a few days ago and even spoke to the DSP, as the new private parties and farmers have filed counter-cases against us. So, we withdrew our nomination and await a resolution,” Rao said.
Except for half a dozen candidates, approximately 30 independent candidates from Gajwel have not withdrawn their candidature, citing unemployment and pending local issues.
In the small village of Anantharao Pally in Gajwel, located 10 km away from the highway, Dasari Hari Babu, a PhD scholar from the University of Hyderabad, has surprised his villagers by deciding to file a nomination in protest against KCR due to the lack of employment opportunities for educated youth.
He says he has decided to contest to create awareness of the unemployed’s plight in the chief minister’s constituency.
PhD scholar Hari Babu contesting from Gajwel as an Independent. (Bhaskar Basava/South First)
Haribabu was moved seeing qualified youth working as daily wage earners. Speaking to South First, Hari Babu got emotional and tore copies of his educational certificates, questioning their usefulness.
Haribabu’s friends circle is divided over his chances with the three big parties — BRS, the BJP and the Congress — in the fray, but he is hopeful he will bring awareness about unemployment.
Karunakar Reddy, once a farmer with five acres of irrigated land, surrendered his farming fields to the state government to construct the Mallanna Sagar lift irrigation project. Not just him, at least 14 villages with a total population of 3,000 families have also offered their lands.
The Mallanna Sagar lift irrigation project, initiated in 2016 and launched in 2022, is considered one of the largest reservoirs, and was built at an estimated cost of around ₹7,000 crore. Water from the Kaleshwaram project is pumped and stored here, and then distributed to other channels.
In 2016, the government issued notices to the 14 villages, urging them to vacate for the construction of the Mallanna Sagar lift irrigation project. The villagers resisted, fearing the loss of their farming lands and houses.
Despite protests, strikes, and the villagers’ filing petitions and memoranda, the government proceeded with eviction orders, providing no prior or accurate information on the Relief and Rehabilitation (R&R) package. In 2016, the village residents challenged Government Order 123, which violated the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, leading to a favourable ruling in the high court.
However, to date, many have not received the promised compensation, which is just a third of what the R&R of Mallanna Sagar villages specified. The compensation includes ₹6.5 lakh-₹11 lakh per acre of land, a 250 sq ft plot for a house, a marriage package of ₹5 lakh, four cattle for livelihood, fishing rights, and 200 acres of land for cattle-rearing.
Be it any corner in the R&R colony, the echoes of injustice persist everywhere.
Karunakar, who is facing a tough time getting justice for himself and his villagers over the pending R&R package, filed the nomination against KCR, wishing to draw attention to the local officers’ alleged corruption and failed promises.
Vemulagattu villagers protesting against the Mallanna Sagar irrigation project. (Supplied)
Speaking to South First, Karunakar said, “I once used to have two workers for my fields. Now, with all my farms and my own house gone, I am looking to work under someone but couldn’t find suitable work. Whenever I visit the collector’s office, I only get the reply, ‘Things are in progress; you will get it.’ If I press about the deadline, they brusquely tell me they will not help, and I can do whatever I want.”
Karunakar said, with a few others agreeing: “We only got ₹6.5 lakh compensation for one acre of land, which is one-fourth the market cost, and a 250 sq ft plot for the construction of houses. Nothing else; we have lost our livelihood and source of income. Forget about the other promises, many still haven’t got the house plots. And for some, the cheque amount has been halted, and for others, they have not received anything. There are young people in our houses; no one is coming to look for the marriage for our daughters and sons. We live in a dire state with no one listening to us.”
A few kilometres from the Mallanna Sagar project, the Konda Pochamma reservoir also connects to the Kaleshwaram project, providing irrigation to Siddipet, Sangareddy, and Bhuvanagiri districts.
At least six villages, comprising over 1,100 families, had to relocate for the reservoir. According to local reports, poorly constructed houses were provided, and many promises, similar to those made to the Mallanna Sagar oustees, remain pending.
Among the affected villages, some families owning more than 10 acres of farming land rejected the package offer, citing low compensation. However, after being promised a new R&R package later, some agreed to receive ₹6.5 lakh to ₹11 lakh per acre with other commitments such as the construction of houses, fishing rights, and jobs in the new companies that were to be established.
Those who accepted the package received plots for construction, but they allege poor construction quality, including roof leakage, lack of a compound wall, and no paint. However, those who rejected the offer filed cases in the high court, citing low payment and violation of replacement acts.
Yedla Rajamma, who hails from Mamdial village, resides in a 60 sq ft house in the R&R colony. (Bhaskar Basava/South First)
Reportedly, most of those who filed the case hail from Scheduled Caste (SC) families in Mamidyal village. They have been intentionally kept in poorly constructed houses to withdraw their cases and agree to the package, but they did not.
Krishna Kumar, a photographer hailing from one of the four villages, filed a nomination and refused to withdraw despite political pressure. He says he is determined to fight against the injustice to his fellow villagers.
Krishna told South First, “Many people received houses with poor construction, and now, with our own money, we are making repairs. No promises have been fulfilled. When we refused to give away the lands for a lower package, a group of 30 SC families filed court cases. In retaliation, the government forcefully evacuated the families and provided nothing. It’s a nightmare for us; once we had everything, now we’re on the road.”
Another independent candidate in Gajwel is Peddalinganna Gari Prasad, a lawyer practising in the Siddipet District Court and founder of Rural Social Development Society. Given his legal background, he also guided 427 candidates across the state to file nominations independently this time.
Farmers protested against the Telangana government. (Supplied)
Speaking to South First, he said, “Over 100 farmers have committed suicide in the district, which speaks about the government’s indifference. The promised schemes of Dalit Bandhu and BC Bandhu have not materialised yet. Only around 100-200 people have received benefits from a total SC population about 60,000. I have filed the nomination to ensure KCR gets these things implemented or addressed. It’s not about winning.”
With the elections nearing, KCR has not yet visited this constituency. Following the sentiment he has adhered to since 2014, he plans to conclude his campaign trail in the Gajwel constituency on 28 November.
While some are awaiting the new sops for the constituency, the independents representing the oustees and local issues eagerly anticipate his attention.
