First village that declared itself free from British Raj cries for development

"All parties give money. Whoever gives more, we will vote for them," says Prabhu S, a 48-year-old farmer from Esuru, expressing frustration over the lack of development in this tiny village which was the first in India to declare itself free from the British rule in 1942.

Not only Prabhu, many other villagers in Esuru, that falls under state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa's Shikaripura constituency in Shivamogga district, are upset with political parties. They say party leaders normally visit the place only to seek votes during elections but later don't even show their faces.

The villagers take pride in narrating stories of the courage displayed by their forefathers against the British, but Shivakumar, 53, a farmer who grows jowar and paddy in two acres of land, says, "All that is past legacy. Now there is no fighting spirit among villagers."
Suvarnamma, 90, the first wife of late R S Shantaveerappa who was one of those who fought against the British, says, "The whole village used to listen to my husband then, but now there is no mass leader who can take everyone together."
Now, villagers are divided and they vote for whichever party appeases them, she says, adding that however, "our family has been loyal to the Congress and will vote for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah."