By Gargi Parsai

Mandsaur, Nov 19 (UNI) BJP’s sitting MLA Yashpal Singh Sisodia is locked in a pitched battle with former Congress Minister and candidate Narendra Nahata for this crucial Assembly seat that saw a strong farmer’s agitation in the district in 2016 in which five farmers were killed. Sixth farmer died later.

The state government gave a compensation of Rs one crore each to the families of victims and came up with Bhavantar Yojna to address the issue of falling prices for surplus farm produce, but the wounds are raw and therefore, local leaders tread on that path with caution.

A solo road show scheduled by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan here was cancelled at the last moment. He will now accompany Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Nov 24 for a party rally at College Grounds.

Opium cultivation and farming in soyabean, garlic, onion, wheat, pulses, spices, herbs with robust mandis are the backbone of the economy of Mandsaur and adjoining Neemach that fall in this Assembly constituency.

Commerce and trade in agriculture commodities is controlled by vyaparis and artiyas (traders and middle-men) and big exporters.

Speaking to the UNI in Lakma Khedi village, BJP candidate, journalist-turned-politician Sisodia said, “ Farmers agitation was in Malhargarh. Congress and opium mafia entered the agitation, making it violent and resulting in deaths of farmers. In fact, I helped in controlling it,”

‘’Our government has brought in Bhavantar yojna for all commodities and farmers who had registered have benefitted,’’ he said and added that any shortcomings in online registration will be rectified.

However, in an interview with the UNI, Congress candidate Narendra Nahata said, “ We will demolish the Bhavantar Yojna and make sure farmers are paid the Minimum Support Price. On top of that we will give bonus of Rs 100 to Rs 500 for each commodity. Farmers have to have an income for vyapar to run,’’ he said.

On being asked about how much will the loan waiver scheme cost to the state exchequer, he said, “ We have an idea and know it is manageable.’’

Employment for educated youth and women’s safety are other issues that the Congress is raising.

Mr Nahata also hammers on the disruption of the robust agriculture-based economy of the region disturbed by de-monetisation and hurriedly implemented GST.

Mandsaur Assembly constituency has 2.43 lakh voters of which 1.24 lakh are men and 1.19 lakh are women. The rural-urban voter population is almost equal. The constituency comprises Mandsaur, Malhargarh, Suvasra, Garoth, Neemach, ( with Javad, Manasa) and Ratlam (with Javra).

The last Assembly election Congress won here was in 1998. Two-time MLA, Sisodia defeated Mahendra Singh Gujjar of Congress in 2013. This time round the party has nominated veteran Narendra Nahata, who was a Minister in Digvijay Singh’s government from 1998 to 2003. He had earlier contested from Manasa but said he got Mandsaur because he lives here.

Under Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Madhya Pradesh touched a double figure in agriculture growth and came out of the status of ‘Bemaroo state’, is the election pitch of the BJP candidate.

On the development front, people in Mandsaur are yearning for a medical college, 24-hour drinking water, regularisation of 26 colonies and so on.

“Bhavantar payment has not brought benefit to small and marginal farmers who were unable to register on online government portal to be eligible. Benefits were grabbed by vyaparis and big farmers,’’ Ajay Lodha, owner of pre-independence newspaper told the UNI.

Then there is the issue of high electricity bills for farmers which adds hugely to input costs. Recently the government has fixed the power rate at Rs 200 per month for households. For 5 HP tubewell the rate is between Rs 6000 and and Rs 6500 annually.

It is a direct fight between the BJP and Congress here. A BJP rebel candidate Sunil Bansal is contesting on anti-reservation Samanya Pichhara Alpsankhayak Kalyan Samaj (SAPAKS) party ticket but SAPAKS, Bahujan Samaj party and Aam Aadmi Party are non-starters here.

The Muslim community is backing the Congress, so also a majority of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe community. Many are looking for change.

UNI’s visit to several villages such as Lakma Khedi, Kachnara, Richcha Bachcha, Daloda Rail and Daloda revealed that the scales are evenly tilted. All eyes are now on Mr Modi’s election rally here on November 24 for a boost to the BJP.
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