With problems faced by sugarcane farmers being one of the top poll issues in Uttar Pradesh, the state’s major belt for the cash crop is going for voting in the second phase on Monday.
The state is estimated to have a sugarcane area of 23.08 lakh hectares, as against 23.07 lakh hectares in 2020-21, and the cane belt of Uttar Pradesh is home to at least 35 lakh farmers. The predominance of sugarcane farming could be gauged from the fact that the western UP districts have overwhelming cultivating this cash crop. Bareilly has 70% sugarcane farmers, Moradabad has around 60%, Badaun has 40%, Bijnor has more than 50%, and Rampur has around 45% of the cash crop growers, according to the information provided by the district administrations and local farmers.
Among other districts, Sambhal has 35% sugarcane farmers, Saharanpur and Amroha have 65% and 60% respectively, and Shahjahanpur has 35% cash crop growers.
In phase two, there are 586 candidates in the electoral fray for the 55 Assembly seats spread across nine districts that also include nine constituencies reserved for the Scheduled Castes.
Pravesh Pathak, a farmer from Babura village said, “Our stress continues. We want the government to look after our payments, taking loans is not a solution.”
“The mill is not paying us our payment. A few days ago I was in dire need of money to take my wife to the hospital, I had to borrow it and that too with interest. The government must ensure that payments get cleared and look into the matter of the rise in the price of fertilizers as well as pesticides,” said Brajesh, another farmer from Nawabganj.
The key constituencies and candidates include Congress’ Nawab Kazim Ali Khan from Rampur, Samajwadi Party’s Supriya Aron from Bareilly Cantt, Keerat Singh Gurjar from Gangoh and BJP’s Devendra Nagpal from Naugawan seat.
At present, the sugarcane economy in the state of Uttar Pradesh is estimated at Rs 40,000 crore. The early variety rate of sugarcane here in UP which is also considered as the best variety is Rs 350 per quintal, whereas the reject variety is sold at Rs 340 per quintal, officials said.
Two crore voters will decide the fate of 586 candidates in the second phase of the Assembly elections.
Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Khanna is in the fray from Shahjahanpur, while Jal Shakti state minister and BJP leader Baldev Singh Aulakh is contesting from the Bilaspur constituency.
Others contesting the elections are SP’s Dharam Singh Saini from Nakud, BJP’s Mahesh Chandra Gupta from Badaun, and BJP’s Gulab Devi from Chandausi.
Supriya Aron, former mayor of Bareilly, will be contesting from the Bareilly Cantonment from the Samajwadi Party.
Notably, the SP has once again fielded Azam Khan from Rampur, who is currently lodged in Sitapur jail since February 2020, over several cases registered against him. Khan’s son, Abdullah Khan has been fielded from Suar constituency.
While Apna Dal (Sonelal) has fielded former Congress party member Haider Ali Khan from Suar.
As per the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) imposed by the Election Commission, campaigning for the state Assembly came to an end at 6 pm on Saturday.
Security has been tightened in the state for the second phase. Rajkumar, Additional Director General (ADG), Bareilly, said: “Security arrangements are underway for the second phase of Uttar Pradesh polls to be held tomorrow. CAPF, Civil Police and Home Guards are deployed at various polling stations. Moradabad Police has developed e-sampark app to receive information with a click of a button.”
“Air ambulance will be available at Bareilly airport. Barricading has been done in the bordering areas of Uttarakhand to curtail inter-state criminal activities during the polls. Yellow cards issued to notorious people who can disturb peaceful voting,” he added. ADG Bareilly said that they will also use drones to watch sensitive areas.