Prakasam: If any reference to Varanasi this election season conjures up Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘alone’, do have a second thought about it. The Uttar Pradesh’s Lok Sabha segment has also become a venue and avenue for activists from across the country to draw attention to their protracted struggles that have been waiting for favourable actions from the governments, both at the Centre and the State.

Taking a cue from Nizamabad turmeric farmers who announced their decision to contest from Varanasi parliamentary constituency, the protagonists of Veligonda Porata Samithi from Prakasam district are also following the suite. Vadde Srinivasulu and Kolluru Ravi Kiran Sharma from Botlaguduru village in Pamaru mandal have filed nominations from Varanasi as independent candidates on Friday. Some of the villagers also went along with them to Varanasi to express solidarity with the cause.

Srinivasulu and Ravi Kiran Sharama said that the completion of Veligonda project was the only way to address the long-pending fluoride problem in Kanigiri area. “We want this issue to become a national issue. It is such an important issue and needs to be addressed swiftly,” they added.

The Nizamabad turmeric farmers who also announced that they will be in fray from Varanasi travelled to the temple town on Thursday. These farmers feel cheated by successive governments as they have failed in fulfilling long-pending demands such as, establishment of turmeric board and obtaining minimum support price for their produce. The farmers, however, said they will not do any campaigning, but wants to remain in the contest to ensure that their issue gets some traction amidst all the limelight that the VVIP constituency is hogging.

Also Watch: PM Modi Files Nomination From Varanasi