The ongoing crisis in Haryana’s mandis, with unsold paddy piles and disgruntled farmers, presents a significant challenge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as it seeks a third term in the state. Amid a wave of resentment, particularly in the agrarian sector, the anti-incumbency sentiment is intensifying. While the BJP tries to appease voters with promises of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and other relief measures, farmers are far from convinced.
Delayed Procurement and Protests
Haryana’s farmers, like Mahesh from Kaithal, have been unable to leave the mandis to cast their votes. Instead, they have spent sleepless nights watching over their hard-earned crops, fearing they might spoil under open skies. The delay in paddy procurement, exacerbated by a strike among rice millers, has left farmers frustrated. Initially scheduled for September 23, the procurement was postponed to October 1 before being moved back to September 27. However, the slow pace of government action has only compounded the problem. The roots of farmers’ dissatisfaction run deeper than delayed procurement. The 2020-21 farmers’ protests, which culminated in the central government repealing the contentious farm laws, are still fresh in the minds of Haryana’s agrarian community. The perception that the BJP government does not prioritize farmers’ welfare persists, and the recent procurement crisis only strengthens this belief.
Rising Discontent: Election Repercussions
The farmers’ discontent with the BJP is palpable across Haryana’s agricultural districts, and it’s becoming clear that their frustration could translate into votes against the ruling party. The BJP, which swept all ten of Haryana’s Lok Sabha seats in 2019, is now facing a groundswell of anger that could cost them seats in both the assembly and national elections. A post-poll survey by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) revealed that over 61% of farmers in Haryana voted for the Congress-led INDIA bloc in the recent elections, while only 35% backed the BJP. Jaswinder Singh, a farmer from Yamunanagar, captured the mood when he said, “Governments should change every five years. Only then will they be held accountable and work for the people. The BJP has had its chance, and they’ve failed us. It’s time for a change.”
BJP’s Response: Too Little, Too Late?
The BJP is aware of the threat posed by the agrarian unrest and has made attempts to address it. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini replaced the widely criticized Manohar Lal Khattar, and the party has promised MSP on 24 crops, a substantial increase from earlier commitments. But these moves have done little to calm the storm. The party has also tried to shift the blame for the current paddy procurement crisis, claiming it’s a central government issue and that the Haryana government has done its best to address farmers’ grievances. A BJP worker in Radaur admitted, “The farmers’ issue remains the biggest challenge in this election, but the government has done what it could regarding MSP. Any new promises might be seen as mere election rhetoric.”
The Congress’ Opportunity
Sensing an opportunity, the Congress has seized on the farmers’ distress to bolster its own prospects. The party has reiterated its promise of providing a legal guarantee for MSP and has capitalized on the BJP’s failure to address the agrarian crisis. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the Congress’ frontrunner for the chief minister’s post, has pledged to open the borders if elected, allowing farmers to continue their protests unhindered. Congress candidates, including Vinesh Phogat, have met with farmer unions to express solidarity and strengthen their appeal among rural voters.
Farmers’ Voices: A Growing Political Force
The anger in Haryana’s mandis and borders is not just a temporary blip in electoral politics. Farmers in Haryana and across India are emerging as a potent political force, capable of swaying elections. Their demands for a legal MSP guarantee, higher wages for laborers, and pensions for farmers are not mere election-year grievances; they represent deep-seated frustrations with a system they believe has failed them. The BJP’s handling of the farmers’ protests in 2020-21 and its current inability to resolve procurement issues may well be the deciding factor in this election. As Subhash Mittal pointed out, “Farmers who see their six months’ hard work lying unsold in mandis are not going to vote for a government that’s not solving their problems. Even those who might have voted BJP in the past are reconsidering.”