Now, Sadabhau Khot to start own pro-farmer party

Expelled Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) leader and former Minister of State for Agriculture Sadabhau Khot has accused his former boss and MP Raju Shetti of deliberately trying to ensure that the farmers’ issues don’t get resolved. Khot contended that the malicious campaign launched against him was with the sole personal interest of seeking his resignation from the state cabinet.

Launching a broadside against his former boss, Khot argued that Shetti was afraid that if the government resolved all the farmers’ issues then he (Shetti) would be left with no work.

Khot announced setting up of a 16-member Agenda Committee which would draft the constitution of the new farmers’ outfit, organisational structure, give a name to the outfit, design a flag and logo. Khot stated that the committee will announce the outfit’s name on September 21 at Kolhapur and a farmers rally will be held at Ichalkaranji on September 30 on Dassera eve. He added that the new party will address issues concerning farmers, farm labourers, women, labourers and youth.

Khot further elaborated that his new farmers outfit will focus on resolving farmers issues through twin approach of dialogue with the government and through agitation.

Taking on his former party boss (Shetti), Khot stated that the allegations leveled against him were below standards of public morality. He alleged that ever since he joined the state cabinet attempts were being made to cut him down to size.

Referring to the charge from Shetti that he (Khot) was an agent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and demand for his resignation, Khot wanted to know whether Shetti was willing to resign from his Lok Sabha seat which was allocated to him (Shetti) by the BJP from its quota in the seat sharing agreement in 2014.

Commenting on his expulsion from the Shetkari Sanghatna, he Khot said that he did not want to leave the party, but was expelled. Replying to queries on future elections, Khot re-