Farmers Movement Archive

As UP prepares for rural polls, top farmer leaders turn star campaigners

AGRA: Away from the protest sites, it’s been a busy time for farmer leaders. For four months, they have been at the forefront of the farmers’ agitation in western UP and Delhi. That political capital, panchayat poll candidates have realised, could make a difference in the first electoral test in the region since farm protests began. “Candidates from different parties are approaching us for support,” Kuldeep Pandey, national president of Bharatiya Kisan Union - Swaraj, said. “Our agenda is to oppose BJP because of the farm laws. We are supporting candidates with clean images and good prospects of winning who have backed our cause during the farmers’ movement against the three farm laws.” Agra-based farmer leader Chaudhary Ramveer Singh added: “We are going village to village to help candidates who have been associated with us. It is farmers vs BJP this time.” Rajveer Lawaniya, Agra district president of BKU (Tikait), said, “We are backing candidates who have been supportive and have been working for the welfare of farmers. We support whoever is the strongest candidate against BJP.” Farmer leaders are not supporting any one party specifically but different candidates across the political spectrum. That is reflected in their speeches at campaign rallies, which skip party endorsements and stick to approval of individual candidates. “Ours is a fight against corruption and to resolve problems farmers face,” Pandey said at a rally. ‘Kisan Ekta Zindabad’ has been ringing out loud across parties. Candidates who have earned the farmer leaders’ support are counting on it to win. “I am optimistic. With help from Rajveer Lawaniya, things look good for me,” said Teekam Singh, a candidate for the post of Agra district council member from Ward 9. “When I get elected, my top priority will be to resolve the stray cattle menace that troubles farmers.” In fact, many farmer leaders have themselves joined the poll fray. Somveer Yadav, Pradeep Sharma and Mukesh Pathak are contesting for the post of block development council members. Former Armyman Ramnath Singh Sikarwar, who was the Republic Day parade commander at Chilla border, is contesting for the post of district council member. So is Savitri Chahar, Agra district head of BKU women's wing, who had joined the protest at Ghazipur border with 18 other women supporters. She said, “I had not thought of contesting initially. I had no money. But women in my area persuaded me to file my nomination. Now, I am getting overwhelming support, especially from farmers.” With this, farmers’ issues have, for perhaps the first time, upstaged caste dynamics in UP. “The farmer has become the central figure in this panchayat election. So, farmer leaders have become star campaigners. Candidates are trying to get farmer leaders on board, sharing selfies with them, and using farm union flags and slogans. For the first time, the caste factor has been sidelined,” Akola-based lawyer Dineshchand Sharma said.

The Times of India

2021-04-15

Agra