Development is on the backburner in Bidar

Development does not seem to be the issue in the Lok Sabha elections at least in Bidar. Personality of the leaders, their loyal followers and caste dynamics seem to dominate poll-related discussions.

“That is because the Indian democracy is not merit based. Electoral choices are mostly based on caste affiliations,” says Vithaldas Pyage, a Dalit ideologue

If there was a roll of honour for backwardness, Bidar would figure among the top districts. It has high levels of infant and maternal mortality, malnutrition among children is high, and accessibility to qualified doctors is low and costly. Female literacy, especially among disadvantaged sections, is abysmally low. Job creation rate is low as industrial investment is negligible.

Farmers unhappy

According to the 2011 census, 89 per cent of the population depends on agriculture for sustenance. Farmers, however, are not happy.

There is no organised market for agriculture or horticulture produce. The agriculture produce marketing committee market yards have failed to implement the government order on using electronic scales. They still use mechanical scales.

The Raitha Sante markets largely remain non-functional. Pricing of farm produce is hardly in favour of the farmer. Farmer associations routinely complain that sugar factories don’t pay remunerative prices for sugarcane. Successive governments have neglected irrigation. No government has come up with a plan to utilise the 24 tmcft of water of the Godavari basin allotted to Bidar under the second Bachawat award.

Most parties are focusing on the personality of their leaders.

The BJP campaign revolves round its Prime Ministerial aspirant Narendra Modi. JD(S) workers speak of the achievements of party leaders H.D. Deve Gowda, H.D. Kumaraswamy and the nominee Bandeppa Kashempur, former agriculture minister. Congress workers speak of the “large-hearted” nature of their leader N. Dharam Singh. Middle level leaders and workers have started defecting from one party to another, citing reasons of loyalty to various leaders.

Like elsewhere in this country, caste seems to play a big role. Mr. Singh is a Rajput, Mr. Kashempur is a Kuruba, and AAP’s Chandrakanth Kulkarni is a Brahmin. BJP’s Bhagwanth Khuba is a member of the influential Lingayat community.

However, development is not at the centre of the poll campaign. It seems to be a talking point in meetings and rallies, at best.

“Campaign speeches are hypocritical. Leaders promise to develop the constituency, criticise their opponents for failing to bring in prosperity. But once the speech is over, they sit with community leaders and discuss nothing but ways in which to capture votes of various caste groups,” says Gandharva Sena, writer.

More:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/development-is-on-the-backburner-in-bidar/article5881140.ece