Strong opposition has erupted in Mandya district against a government proposal to include Gejjalagere village within the limits of the Maddur city municipality. The protest, which took place on Sunday, saw significant support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with senior leaders joining the villagers in their agitation.
BJP Leaders Rally With Villagers Against Merger
Senior BJP functionaries, including opposition leaders R Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, actively participated in the protest. They accused the state government of attempting to dilute the rural character of Gejjalagere purely for financial gain. Addressing the gathered crowd, Narayanaswamy argued that villages function best under gram panchayats and that the soul of a village is lost in an urban setup.
He alleged that the merger move was driven solely by Gejjalagere's high revenue potential. "The government appears to value this village only for its income," Narayanaswamy remarked. He criticised the local MLA for being out of touch with ground realities and warned that the government's stubbornness on this issue could lead to its political downfall.
Warnings of Tax Hikes and Betrayal of Gandhian Ideals
Former minister R Ashoka invoked Mahatma Gandhi's vision of 'Grama Rajya, Rama Rajya' (village self-rule is ideal rule). He accused the current government of betraying these Gandhian ideals by forcing urbanisation on a rural area. Ashoka issued a stark warning to the villagers, stating that inclusion in the municipality would result in steep hikes in property and water taxes, severely affecting the local farming community.
He further claimed that the substantial revenue generated by Gejjalagere would be diverted to other areas within the municipal corporation, leaving the village itself underdeveloped. Ashoka cautioned that unchecked urbanisation poses a threat to rural development and long-term food security in the region.
Assurances of Support and Political Resolution
Both leaders assured the protesting villagers of the BJP's full support. Chalavadi Narayanaswamy revealed that the issue had been brought to the attention of Union Minister and Mandya MP, H.D. Kumaraswamy. He reiterated that no merger should take place without the explicit consent of the public.
R Ashoka, who recalled inaugurating the Gejjalagere gram panchayat in the past, vowed to protect it. He issued a firm political warning, asserting that if the government does not withdraw the merger proposal, the BJP would reverse the decision upon returning to power in the state. The protest underscores a growing tension between urban expansion plans and the desire to preserve rural governance and identity.
