Marathwada voters miffed as politicians steer clear of drought, unemployment

The mosambi (citrus) market near Pachod village in Aurangabad district wears a deserted look. The market, which once dispatched 200-250 tonne mosambi everyday to various markets across India including Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai is now sending out just about 50-60 tonne.

“The entire economy of the region largely depends on mosambi cultivation, but drought has destroyed everything. The orchards are dry and farmers are in distress. Anyway, after demonetisation, the economy here was already in the doldrums,” says Ganesh Pharate, the market head. Farmers who brought fruits to the market said that they could not save much for the trade and very few have got any help from the government. In Beed district, villagers are now completely dependent on fodder camps for the survival of their cattle while in Latur district water scarcity is worsening and the local businesses are at a standstill. Many farmers in Osmanabad, like their counterparts in other districts, have already migrated or are preparing to move out in search of livelihood.

Also read:Maharashtra’s shame

However, not many political leaders who are campaigning in the region are talking about drought and distress.

Polling will be conducted for eight Lok Sabha constituencies in Marathwada in two phases – April 18 and April 23. But the leaders are mainly speaking on national issues even as people in the region are finding it hard to survive.

“Who is bothered about our problems?” asked an agitated Rahul Pardhe who has three acres in Gangapur taluka. “There is no water, no fodder and no jobs. But leaders won’t talk about our distress as they must be having an understanding among themselves. If debate on drought and irrigation scam starts, it would be difficult for all party leaders to save face,” he said.

Rishikesh Baglane from Beed district is a graduate and his looking for a job. “I don’t have a job and there is nothing left in agriculture. But I am not the only jobless youth, you will find many,” he said, adding that young people are unhappy with all political parties.

Amruth Raut a farmer from Latur district says that people would vote for only those leaders or parties that give concrete assurance to farmers.

Also read:Marathwada: Nothing escapes tentacles of  drought

With 73 per cent of its population living in rural areas, Marathwada’s politics is largely dominated by the rural population.

Out of eight seats in the region, BJP and Shiv Sena won three seats each in 2014 while Congress two. Interestingly, BJP State President Raosaheb Danve and Congress State President Ashok Chavan both come from Marathwada and are contesting from Jalna and Nanded constituency, respectively. Former Union Minister late Gopinath Munde’s daughter Pritam Munde is contesting from Beed.

While the BJP-Sena campaign is largely revolving around PM Narendra Modi’s policies, NCP-Congress alliance is highlighting the failure of government schemes. Political pundits predict that though BJP-Sena might continue to have the upper hand in the region because of the strong base they have created, the Congress- NCP might gain if distress among farmers and rural voters reflects in their polling.

COMMENT NOW