The high-decibel election campaigning in Chamundeshwari and Varuna constituencies has taken the media glare off the other Assembly segments in the district, where in stark contrast, things are low-profile.
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Raucous crowds, the cacophony of political activists, and processions are conspicuous by their absence in the hinterland, where candidates, busy concentrating on pockets with high voter concentration, are not even showing up.
K.R. Nagar town is relatively free of cut-outs of candidates and there is no palpable election fever. But as one enters the rural hinterland of K.R. Nagar, one finds a scene of business as usual with people going about their daily chores. “The candidates are yet to visit the village but their representatives have canvassed in a low-profile way. We have senior citizens, and generally people abide by their decisions. But the new generation thinks independently and votes,” said Prasanna, a youngster from Kumbarkoppalu who has an acre of land and cultivates vegetables.
More than the elections, farmers with small land holdings are preoccupied with their daily sustenance and work, said Somesh, another villager. He cultivates jowar, ragi and other short-term crops and doubles up as an autorickshaw driver during his spare time.
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Close to the Lakshmanteertha river and the Cauvery, the vast swathe of land in the taluk is relatively prosperous and agricultural distress is not very high.
Further ahead is Arakere on the Mysuru-K.R. Nagar highway — a village with about 1,000 voters. “We have a mix of all castes and agriculture is the main occupation,” said Dinesh, a farmer. His father Ramegowda, who is 96 years old, is still active but does not bother about politics at his age. “My son will decide... I am not much concerned,” he said.
The farmers in the region generally cultivate paddy during monsoon and then shift to short-term crops to augment their income. “We are close to K.R. Nagar town and the local youngsters take up work there or go to Mysuru during off-season. We are preoccupied with farming during monsoon,” said Mr. Dinesh. “Availability of water solves 50% of rural distress. A good monsoon ensures enough work for all to sustain themselves for the year.”
He said groundwater can be tapped in the village by digging around 150 feet, unlike in most other places where the water table is below 500 feet or more.
“The election cacophony witnessed in Mysuru is unwanted and leads to animosity. It is thankfully absent in the villages,” he said.