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The farmers' suicides have been a substantial issue ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls with farmers expressing discontent over the lack of help from government authorities.
Maharashtra's Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde's home district Beed witnessed 30 farmer's suicides since March of this year, as per the data of district administration. The family members of deceased farmers told ANI that the administration, government or any public representative did not reach out to them for help. Speaking to ANI, Murali Gunwant Haka, son of the deceased farmer Gunwant Haka said that he lives with his mother and grandmother in Chichkhandi village of Ambejogai taluka. About four months ago, his father committed suicide by consuming pesticide. He had a loan of about Rs 5 lakh from the bank and private moneylenders, but due to drought, the crop got spoiled and there was nothing left to eat. After being troubled for many days, he finally committed suicide. "No one came to ask for votes and neither came to ask our condition," he added. Murali told that his fields are mortgaged with the bank and the moneylenders come to his house every day to ask for money. Another deceased farmer's wife, Ranjana, who lives in Kej Taluka, said that her husband committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in the field in September. Now she lives with her two children and their responsibility is on her. Her husband had not taken any loan from any bank, but he owed money to private moneylenders. Although he never told the amount, he was worried due to the loan amount. She said that even during the elections, if someone came to meet her, then she could tell him her pain. Leave alone financial help, no officer or public representative even came to her house and met her. She has not even received compensation till now. Her son also expressed his grief and shared the crunching financial condition of the family. "If politicians come, I will ask for help. I study in 11th standard and have to pay college fees," he said. Both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) -- comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress -- have intensified their preparations for the upcoming elections to 288 Assembly seats in the State. The BJP is part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance alongside the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Maharashtra elections will be held in a single phase on November 20 with counting of votes held on November 23.In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42. (ANI)
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