Kunbi Sena to merge with Congress

THANE: The 13-year-old Kunbi Sena, which was set up to resolve the issues of members of the Kunbi community, mostly farmers and farm labourers, has decided to join the Congress party.

Kunbi Sena chief Vishwanath Patil today said the party will merge with the Congress on November 23, when Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is slated to attend a farmers' rally at Wada in Thane district.

The party was formed to fight for the rights of the Kunbis, a developing caste.

Patil said they have realised that "to get the long pending problems of the farmers resolved, the only way was to be with the Congress party."

During the last 13 years, the party has grown in the region of Vidharbha, Marathwada, Khandesh and Konkan and has also made its mark in other regions.

Patil said he was hopeful that with Prithviraj Chavan at the helm of affairs, the issues relating to the farmers and farm labourers in the state would be resolved in a phased manner.

Before taking the decision, he sought the opinion of the members of the community, he said.

Patil also pointed out that maximum number of suicides were committed by farmers from the Kunbi community and this was on account of lack of facilities, including irrigation, and other benefits.