Karnataka polls: Farmers to decide the fate in Melukote

JDS has nurtured the constituency by focussing on agriculture and farmers issues, which are the mainstay of Melukote. This time, it has promised to improve irrigation facilities, provide better prices for agricultural

Ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections in Karnataka, a slew of Opposition parties including Congress and JDS, have been busy preparing for a big event. In Melukote, the temple town constituency in Mandya district, farmers' vote will be the deciding factor in the upcoming elections. Let us now take a look at the political history of the Melukote Assembly seat.

Melukote is an important agricultural region in Karnataka, known for its cultivation of rice, sugarcane and other crops. The constituency has a significant population of farmers, who play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the elections. The constituency has been represented by various political parties over the years, including Congress, JDS and BJP.

But one of the most prominent leader from Melukote is K.S. Puttannaiah, a farmer leader and a member of a farmer union Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha or KRRS. The party was later merged with psephologist-turned-politician Yogendra Yadav's Swaraj India. Puttannaiah's knowledge on multiple inter-State water disputes, including the Cauvery issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and his resolve to protect the rights of farmers earned him recognition as a "pro-people" leader.

In 1994, Puttannaiah won by 12,584 votes and went on to raise the voice of farmers' struggles in the Vidhan Sabha. However, in 1999, Congress gave the ticket to K. Kempegowda while C.S. Puttaraju contested on a JDS ticket against him. Puttaraju, who was an agriculturist by occupation and also fought for the rights of farmers, was able to split the votebase of Puttannaiah, who was contesting on KRRS ticket. However, Kempegowda won the elections.

In 2004, Congress allotted the ticket to L.D. Ravi. However, JDS candidate Puttaraju defeated Puttannaiah, who was contesting from Sarvodaya Karnataka Party (SKP). In the 2008 Assembly election again, Puttaraju retained the Melukote seat. In 2013, however, Puttanniah was successful in contesting on an SKP ticket from Melukote. Interestingly, he garnered almost 50 per cent of the total votes, shattering Puttaraju's dream.

After Puttannaiah died of cardiac arrest in 2018, his son Darshan, a software engineer by profession, contested the elections on a Swaraj India party ticket against JDS' Puttaraju. Darshan, however, lost the election by a margin of 22,224 votes from the Melukote constituency.

Who's the farmers' choice: JDS or SKP

This time too, Darshan has announced his candidature from Melukote with support from KRRS and the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti. On the other hand, Puttaraju will be repeated from the constituency by the JDS, which has traditionally focused on the issues of farmers and agriculture, which are the mainstay of Melukote. The party has promised to improve irrigation facilities, provide better prices for agricultural produces and create employment opportunities for the youth in the region.

However, the political scenario in the state is constantly evolving. It will be interesting to witness what lies ahead for Melukote.