MASSIVE participation marked the 72 Hour Mahadharani (Mahapadav) during November 26-28, at Bangalore on the call of joint nation-wide call given by Samyuktha Kisan Morcha and Central Trade Unions. In Karnataka, Mahadharani was organised by SHK (Samyukta Horata Karnataka – a united platform of struggles of kisan, agricultural workers, dalit, women's, student and youth organisations and trade unions) and JCTU (Joint Committee of Trade Unions – a platform of state units of Central TUs and state level independent Employees’ Federations of various sectors). Over 40 organisations were involved in the Bangalore Mahadharani.

First day was called Sankalpa (Resolve) Day and second and third day was called ‘Sangharsha’ (Struggle) and ‘Sandesha’ (Message) Days respectively. First day was dedicated to making a ‘resolve’ to defend the constitution and its values and the republic. On the second day, focus was on the demands of various sections of working people and for policy changes for which continuous ‘struggle’s are being and will continue to be waged. The demands of mahadharani included few state specific demands, apart from the 21 demands finalised by SKM-CTUs. These include – Scrapping anti-farmer State laws ‘Land Reforms (Amendments) Act, APMC (amendments) Act, Cattle Protection Act – all passed in 2020 by BJP Government. Congress was committed to repealing the three anti-farmer laws in its manifesto, but is silent on them even after 6 months of being in power. The demand also includes scrapping amendments to labour laws increasing working day to 10 hours a day and imposing compulsory night shift on women workers. Conveying the ‘message’ of necessity to oust BJP-RSS of power at the centre also and drive towards pro-people policy changes was emphasized on the third and final day. The emphasis was also on taking this message to people in every street of every ward and village in the state before crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Peasants, workers, working people from various sectors various regions participated in the mahadharani occupying not only ‘Freedom Park’ in the heart of the city but also the adjoining streets, as capacity of the venue could not accommodate sea of working people who converged on the venue. Additional chairs and Giant LED TVs were quickly organised to facilitate their participation. Food was organised for all participants. On an average well over ten thousand people participated each day taking the total participation to around forty thousands.

March of Bangalore workers from Bannappa Park to Freedom park, mass ‘Constitutional pledge’ and Release of third revised edition of ‘Kadana Kana’ (a book on Historic Kisan Struggle) were the highlights on the “Sankalpa Day’, the first day. Sending of a letter with demands of mahadharani to the CM, and insistence by organisers for visit of chief minister and governor to the venue and consequent visit of senior minister Krishna Byregowda (as a representative of CM) was the highpoint of second day of ‘Sangharsha’.  Insistence of organisers for the minister’s date for a full day of meeting of the leaders for comprehensive discussion on charter of demands with chief minister along with relevant ministers/secretaries; and a written invitation for the meeting ‘here and now’ and consequent visit of Naseer Ahmed, political secretary to CM with the letter (of invitation for a full day meeting on December 19) demanded was a major highlight of the final day of ‘Sandesha’. Burning of three effigies representing ‘anti-worker anti-peasant laws’, ‘policies fleecing common people’, ‘vicious hate politics’ in a Agnikund; and passing of a resolution were also highlights of the final day of mahadharani. A resolution criticising anti-people policies of BJP-RSS government was adopted, which called for a sustained campaign to defeat the BJP-RSS in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and for policy changes.