Drought and water challenges loom over politics in Mandya

BENGALURU: In the villages of Mandya, where daily life is often dictated by the cycles of agriculture, a curious scene is unfolding during the afternoon hours. The humble tea stalls, often no more than tin boxes with benches, become bustling hubs of activity at a time that usually saw farmers engrossed in their agricultural tasks. The reason behind this unexpected shift in routine lies in the harsh reality of the ongoing drought, and with their afternoons now idle, farmers are finding themselves drawn to these hubs of conversation and empathy.

Mandya, like much of the region, is grappling with a severe water crisis, leading to a drastic reduction in agricultural output. According to government figures, Sugarcane production in the state is estimated to be 52 million tonnes this year, compared to about 75 million tonnes last year.

In Jeegundipatna village, at one such tea stall, Bore Gowda, a farmer,says people made a mistake voting for the Congress in the Assembly elections. “We have the KRS dam here in Mandya but our fields are going dry. The government talks about providing water to Bengaluru but releases water to Tamil Nadu even when our crops are dying.”

In Mandya, agriculture is the livelihood of nearly 90% of the population and the Cauvery River is the lifeline. The matter of water allocation, especially concerning sharing agreements with downstream states, transcends mere political or caste affiliations.

With crop losses and dwindling yields, former Chief Minister H D

Kumaraswamy and the Janata Dal (Secular) party -- in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party this time -- have positioned themselves as staunch advocates for farmers’ welfare. “We don’t care much for the BJP, but we believe that once he (Kumaraswamy) is elected, he will be an agriculture minister at the centre.; the BJP leaders are saying that in their campaign,” said Shiva Kumar, another farmer.

To be sure, it is not clear who has said this. There has been no talk in Delhi of possible portfolios should the BJP-led NDA win,

In Mandya, the top contenders for the MP seat are JD(S)’ Kumaraswamy, a former CM of the state, and Venkataramane Gowda, known colloquially as Star Chandru, the Congress candidate.

Much water has flown in the Cauvery since 2019, when Kumaraswamy’s son, Nikhil, faced defeat in his electoral debut against the independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh, who received backing from the BJP. He lost the subsequent assembly polls from the Mandya as well. The BJP and JD(S), then rivals, now find themselves in an alliance. Adding to the intrigue, Sumalatha Ambareesh, after opting not to contest, has aligned herself with the BJP.

With the looming drought, Kumaraswamy’s grassroots appeal has galvanised support for his campaign, painting him as the local hero poised to champion Mandya’s cause. “We made a mistake by not electing Nikhil last time. I will admit that we voted for Sumalatha but it was a mistake. She didn’t do any work. We have not even seen her since she got elected. We will rectify this mistake this time,” said Arun Kumar P, a shopkeeper from Basarahalli.