Krishnagiri: The family of Gunde Gowdu in Ettipalle near Hosur in Krishnagiri district has suddenly, ahead of the elections , become important. Not because it lives in the biggest house in the village, but because the 60 members include 40 voters , more precious than anything else in the poll season.All national and state-level political party candidates have been ‘targeting’ the family over the past few weeks but have been politely sent back. Each time someone comes calling, said family head K Gunde Gowdu, “We inform them that we will cast our votes only for the best candidate.”Gunde, his brothers Pille, Munusamy and Sathappa along with their two sisters were born in the house and the men began tilling the land as part of the family tradition. “We own 150 acres of land and have not bifurcated it,” Munusamy said.A few of the family members are currently living in Russia and the US, working or studying, and have all been informed to return to their hometown to cast their votes in the upcoming elections, Munusamy said. The entire family is waiting to gather with all its strength.Their late parents Bathe Gowdu and Sathamma had requested them not to separate and the six children have fulfilled their wishes, said Gunde, adding that he requested his sons and daughters to continue like them.The four brothers, their sisters and their families have all been living together. “We have members of four generations in our house,” he told TOI. Each day, he said, about 10 kg of rice is used to satisfy the hunger of the huge household. They did not buy anything from the market, able to get everything from their own fertile lands, Gunde added. “We grow mangoes, bananas, paddy as well as the various cereals and pulses on our lands.”Munusamy said all women in the family had distributed the household duties equally and that there was perfect harmony. “We have not had any issues or quarrels at any point of time,” he added, proudly.

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