TN farmers field common candidate to press Cauvery water, toddy ban demands in Dharapuram bypoll

TIRUPPUR: Farmer leader C Nallasamy, who played a key role in fielding over 1,000 farmers as candidates in the Modakurichi constituency during the 1996 Assembly, has fielded a candidate in Dharapuram to push their decade-old demand regarding the Cauvery issue. He has announced a common candidate, P Muthusamy, on behalf of farmers in the Dharapuram bypoll to draw the state government's attention on the Cauvery issue and seeking to remove the ban on toddy. The upcoming bypoll for the seat will now be a six-way contest.

Parties including the DMK, AIADMK, TVK, NTK and the CPI have already announced they will field candidates in Dharapuram. In this backdrop, Nallasamy and a few farmers' associations on Monday announced a common candidate, P Muthusamy (55) of Dharapuram, on their behalf.

Speaking to TNIE, Nallasamy, who is also secretary of the Federation of Tamil Nadu All Farmers' Association, said, "The verdict we have secured in the Cauvery issue is of no use whatsoever. A prime example of this is that Kuruvai cultivation has been going well in Karnataka this year and not so in TN. Cauvery is our lifeline. Even though we have secured verdicts, we are still fighting with Karnataka for water."

"That is why we have been insisting for over two decades that the TN government should take steps to review this verdict. A daily water-sharing system for the Cauvery is needed. We can put an end to the current problems only by securing water on a daily basis. Storing water in Karnataka is the main reason for the issues. Why should TN's water be stored there?. We can store our share of water at Mettur. We have announced a common candidate in the Dharapuram bypoll to emphasise this view and to press for the lifting of the ban on toddy in TN," he added.

"It is not feasible to implement the current Cauvery verdict. We will award a prize of Rs 10 crore to the parties that can make implement that verdict. Similarly, we will award a prize of Rs 10 crore to any party that proves the ban on toddy is justified," Nallasamy added.

Nallasamy also noted that since Dharapuram is an agriculture-dependent region, this step would have an impact on the political landscape. Farmers stated that their common candidate is set to file nomination papers on Tuesday.

Earlier, the leader held consultations with the farmers' associations in Dharapuram.

A Kalimuthu, president of Tamilaga Katchi Sarbatra Vivasayigal Sangam, said, "We expected an announcement lifting the ban on toddy during the last Assembly session. But it didn't come. Therefore, a common candidate was announced after consulting over 20 farmers' associations in Dharapuram. We hope this decision will certainly draw the government's attention. It will also create significant awareness among farmers. Dharapuram is an area with a large population of farmers."

The farmers are also planning to meet other farmers' associations soon after nomination to seek support.

In the 1996 TN Assembly election, in Erode's Modakurichi seat, over 1,000 farmers contested as candidates urging various electoral reforms, led by Nallasamy. A total of 1,033 candidates contested in that election.