BJP readies to combat Cong, NCP on farm reforms forward of rural ballot

The Maharashtra BJP will use agricultural reforms as its key weapon to combat the ruling Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena alliance within the polls to the 14,234 gram panchayats slated for January 15. The outcomes shall be declared on January 18.
At the occasion’s inside assembly, the BJP management has urged its cadres in rural belts to go aggressive to convey the message of agricultural reforms with the central theme of farmers’ welfare.
Opposition chief Devendra Fadnavis stated: “The initiative to make non-implementation of MSP an offense was mooted during my tenure in Maharashtra. It was supported neither by the Congress nor the NCP. We took a step forward to enhance procurement of crops at MSP to help small and marginal farmers. Now, we are presenting facts and figures to people.”
The BJP has ready a booklet, calling out the Congress and the NCP’s alleged flip-flops on the agriculture sector, and has been circulating it within the rural areas. The BJP Kisan Cell has been assigned to marketing campaign actively on the grassroots stage.
BJP Kisan Cell president Anil Bonde advised The Indian Express, “The exploitation of small and marginal farmers in the Agriculture Produce Market Committee, where farm produce is often procured below MSP, is the main issue. This is already being debated.” There are 306 APMCs in Maharashtra with an annual turnover exceeding Rs 50,000 crore. Those controlling the APMCs are reaping monetary advantages depriving the farmers of the worth for his or her crops, he added. The Opposition believes that the gram panchayat ballot would be the litmus check and retaining its maintain within the rural belts a frightening process.
Maharashtra with its 1.56 crore farmers represent 78 per cent inhabitants of small and marginal farmers. Secondly, 55 per cent of the state inhabitants lives in rural Maharashtra.

The BJP may also spotlight the federal government’s “failure” to supply monetary bundle to farmers affected by cyclone and hailstorm.
Bonde stated, “Under the PMKY, farmers receive an annual assistance of Rs 6,000. But in comparison to the Union grant, what has the state given to its farmers reeling under financial constrains?”