Chhattisgarh results 2018: Congress catches farmers' imagination; sweeps victory in paddy-dominated regions

RAIPUR: Congress' poll promise to waive agriculture loans and increase MSP of paddy appears to have caught the imagination of people in the state’s central plains where its candidates put up an impressive show—pushing BJP to a pathetic situation and overcoming the triangular contest posed by the third front Janata Congress-BSP alliance.


Explore how Chhattisgarh voted with constituency details along with electoral map

The rural areas of central plains, where paddy cultivation is the backbone economy, stood with the Congress, its candidates have established unassailable leads at least in 37 constituencies. Janata Congress-BSP alliance is leading in seven constituencies in the central plains region. BJP, however, won six seats so far and are leading in about seven seats in the central plains as counting is progressing late in the night.

Explaining the wave of congress among farmers, Raipur based farmer Virendra Pandey, a former BJP leader, said that the famers heavily counted on Congress party’s poll promises in its manifesto. Congress party has promised to pay Rs 2500 on purchase of one quintal of paddy and this stopped farmers from selling their paddy stock under during the ongoing procurement season. Besides, farmers waited selling paddy so that their existing loans could be waived of once Congress comes to power.

Kisan Congress cell president

Chandra Shekhar Shukla

said Congress did not just promise to uplift the farmers but also fielded farmers as their candidates that instilled confidence in the voters that Congress meant business and it would fulfil their promises. He said four out of five kisan congress members, who contested the election, have won the election and they would impress upon the party to take care of the farming community.

Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP)’s spokesperson Gauri Shankar Shrivas said, "Undoubtedly Congress manifesto attracted farmers but as the MSP is decided by central government which is Rs 1750 for this year now we want to whether Congress party will pay Rs 2500 in the on-going paddy procurement. If the promise is not fulfilled, it can definitely boomerang on the Congress.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi personally announced the party’s promise to waive off farm loans in chief minister Raman Singh’s constituency of Rajnandgaon where the farmers have been raising their voice against farm distress and demanding better prices for paddy produce. Immediately after first phase polling on November 12, Congress also released its party manifesto at Rajnandgaon—promising a slew of initiatives for the betterment of farmers.

At present, the centre procures A grade paddy at Rs 1,770 per quintal and common paddy at Rs 1,750 per quintal. By adding the bonus at the time of procurement the farmers will get Rs 2,070 and Rs 2,050. Now, the Congress will have to mobilize its own resources and mop up revenue to fulfil the promise of giving Rs 2500 as MSP on paddy.