HDK turns farmer for a day, transplants paddy

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy turned a farmer for a day on Saturday by transplanting paddy at a field at Sitapura village in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district.

Before stepping into the paddy field, Kumaraswamy visited Anjaneya temple. Folk art troupes accorded a traditional welcome to the chief minister. Artist Chikkapalya Prakash had made the field look like a movie set.

The chief minister joined by a total of 105 women workers and 50 men workers took up paddy transplantation on five acres of land. Twenty-five pairs of oxen were used to till the field.

Earlier, speaking to reporters during his visit to Suttur Mutt, Mysuru, Kumaraswamy said,"I had promised the farmers of taking part in the paddy cultivation. Mandya farmers had not cultivated paddy in last three years due to successive drought years in the region. This time the state has received good rain. I took up cultivation to instill confidence among the farmers and boost agricultural activities in the region," he said.

When reporters asked about the BJP leader K S Eshwarappa's comment on his scheduled paddy cultivation as a political gimmick, Kumaraswamy said, The BJP leaders' comments show their attitude towards the farmers, and the people know it. 

The chief minister added that he was participating in paddy transplantation not for publicity, but as mark of respect to the farming community.