NELLORE: It is common for politicians to supply liquor, distribute money and resort to muscle power to win elections. There appears to be yet another card up their sleeve. Durayee, the edict issued by fishermen community leaders, is set to play a key role in Kovur bypolls being held on March 18.In fact, election-time offers by parties are not just a political leverage, but viewed by fishermen as an obligation on the part of contesting candidates. The candidates need to fulfil wishes of fishermen in return for their votes and an edict (Durayee) will be issued by community elders in favour of the 'deserving' candidate. All community members are expected to obey decree and vote for that candidate. Violation will invite severe punishment.The practice of Durayee has been in existence among fishermen for centuries. It can even override the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.For fishermen, Durayee is the law. Generally, Durayee is enforced to ensure good conduct among community members. For example, it is used to protect the sanctity of marital life by awarding stringent punishment to those indulging in adultery.In financial matters too, justice is dispensed through Durayee and the wrongdoer is penalised. Under this practice, the guilty get serious punishments and penalties run into lakhs of rupees sometimes. If the penalty is not paid, there will be social boycott of the entire family and all members will have to leave the village. They will not be allowed to draw water from the well or shop in the village.The village elder, who is called the Peda Kapu, will enforce the Durayee law. However, this practice of issuing a binding edict has undergone some changes with time. It is applied in the context of elections in 1952. "There is no wrong in implementing Durayee. It is our way of protecting the community," said A Jayaramaiah, Peda Kapu of Tummalapenta village in Kavali rural mandal.According to him, once they commit themselves to vote for a particular political party in the elections under Durayee, they will abide by it to cast all the votes in favour of that party.If anybody violates the social code and votes for another party, he and his family will sent out of the village. There are several such families living away from villages in bus shelters in Alluru constituency because they violated Durayee during the 2004 elections.There are 30,000 voters in 25 fishermen village in Kovur constituency and political leaders are going round to bag those votes through Durayee.Already, YSRC had 'secured' the votes in nine villages in Vidayaluru mandal, while TDP got 10 villages in Indukuru mandal by offering to undertake many development activities for fishermen, besides money and alcohol, in return for a firm poll commitment in the form of Durayee Poll ‘code’* There are several such families living away from villages in bus shelters in Alluru constituency because they violated Durayee during the 2004 elections* There are 30,000 voters in 25 fishermen village in Kovur constituency and political leaders are going round to bag those votes through Durayee.
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