Mysuru: Feeling aggrieved over not supporting their cause, the sugarcane growers have taken a vow to defeat Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his cabinet colleague H C Mahadevappa from their respective constituencies, said union leader Kuruburu Shanthakumar.

However, they have decided to take a neutral stand in supporting other political parties after Janata Dal (secular) State Chief H D Kumaraswamy approached them for support.

Talking to media in Mysuru, Shanthakumar said, both CM and Minister Mahadevappa had cheated the sugarcane growers and failed to fulfill their various demands during the last five years. The state committee has decided to work against them and elect good candidates instead, he added. The committee also decided to stay neutral despite Kumaraswamy promising to fulfill their demands once voted to power, Shanthakumar confirmed.

Election officials and city police commissioner denied permission to the union members to hold a bike rally to spread awareness, citing election model code of conduct. Venting anger against the EC and police commissioner’s move, they said the purpose of the rally was only to create awareness and not to campaign in favour of any political party.