NEW DELHI: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) – farmer unions’ joint platform spearheading the protest against the three central farm laws – will not contest elections anywhere under its banner as proposed by one of its key leaders Gurnam Singh Chaduni of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Haryana), but anyone would be free to contest in individual capacity as an independent or under banner of any political party.
However, if anyone among them contests elections, he or she will have to leave the Morcha.
Though the SKM has, so far, not formally articulated its position on Chaudni’s proposal, many leaders whom the TOI spoke to on Monday clarified its position.
The Morcha may formally announce its decision after discussing the issue in a meeting of all farm union leaders on Wednesday.
“The SKM is not a political party.
But farmer leaders are free to contest elections in their individual capacity, under the banner of any party that suits them or even as independents,” SKM member and All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) general secretary Hannan Mollah told TOI.Mollah, one of nine leaders of the SKM who jointly issue any formal statement on key decisions, said, “It is a platform where 500 organizations have come together…
SKM has discussed the issue of defeating BJP in the polls and for that if any farmer leader wants to contest and defeat BJP they can do so as individuals, on behalf of any party or as independents.” Another leader in this core group of nine farmer representatives, Yudhvir Singh of BKU (Tikait), however, said, “If anyone among them would contest election, he/she will have to leave the SKM.
Our Morcha is non-political and it’ll remain so.” Singh believes that if SKM decides to contest the election, it will be weakened and its main agenda of repeal of farm laws and demand of legal guarantee to procurement at minimum support price (MSP) would be diluted.
Five states including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand will go to polls early next year and individual farmer leaders have already stated about their respective ‘missions’ in Punjab, UP and Uttarakhand.
The SKM has, however, distanced itself from such remarks, saying nothing like such political ‘missions’ have been announced by it.
Asked about their campaign during West Bengal polls, Singh said, “We’ll continue to do so, asking people not to vote for BJP or NDA candidates.
But we will not tell anyone whom to vote for.
We will neither contest the election nor campaign in favour of any candidate.
We will just highlight our demands and tell people how the ruling party/alliance at the Centre has treated farmers.” Mollah, former Lok Sabha MP of CPM, however, nuanced it differently.
He said, “We have discussed that BJP ‘vote ka chot samajhta hai’ (understands only electoral defeat) which is why it tries to win elections by all means, it tries to form government by hook or by crook, even if it loses elections.
Hence, unless we defeat them electorally, the farm laws will not be repealed, farmers’ interests will not be protected.
So, we will campaign to ‘punish BJP, defeat BJP’ in all the five states that go for elections next year just as we did in the last round of assembly polls.” Asked about differences in the SKM on whether to contest elections in Punjab or any other states, Mollah said, some leaders feel that farmers should contest elections to defeat BJP, but “we have left it to the individuals.
The SKM will only campaign against BJP.
We are not going to campaign in favour of any party.” “Five hundred organizations are united on a limited agenda – repeal the three anti farmer laws, enact MSP Act to ensure legally guaranteed procurement and withdrawal of proposed electricity bill…
It is an issue-based unity, not ideology based, so there will be differences on other issues.
All are free to express their opinions or views, but those are not SKM’s opinions,” said Mollah, when asked about differing views within the SKM.
Since the movement spreads across states, the ground realities are different for farmer groups representing different states.
“It has been seven months since farmers have been protesting at the Delhi borders.
And there is complete unanimity on the basic issues that have led to the protests.
No democratic movement in Independent India has gone on for so long… farmers have died, more may die, but we will not give up… the farmers can see through the government’s (Centre) conspiracy to prolong the movement and tire the protestors out… but the movement will go on,” explained Mollah.