Farmers and agriculture to become top agenda for General Elections 2019

One major positive outcome of the recent Assembly elections in 5 states of India is the change of agenda for the general elections 2019. The debacle of BJP in all 5 states and loss of power in three states, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chattisgarh have forced the BJP to rethink on its electoral agenda for the parliament elections 2019.

Farmers and Agriculture:

Farmers and agriculture are back into the poll agenda of all the political parties after more than a decade. Farmers rallies in Maharashtra and New Delhi prior to the assembly elections have defamed the BJP government across the nation.

The electoral victories of Congress party in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh have been attributed to the promise of loan waiver schemes for farmers and other soaps to agriculture. The victory of TRS in Telnagana state also has its sources in Rythu Bandhu scheme which is aimed at providing input subsidy in the form of cash.

2019 Election Scenario:

Congress President, Rahul Gandhi has been advocating for major policy shift towards farming community. The policy initiatives of three new Congress governments in MP, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh and Karnataka have set the agenda for the general elections 2019. BJP has started brainstorming over new agriculture policy and formulating policies to appease farmers in the coming elections.

SBI written off Rs. 20000 crore corporate loans at a go (this includes Rs.1201 crore given to Malya). Top level brainstorming now in Delhi to discuss the impact of Rs.20000 crore PROPOSED interest subsidy for farmers across the country. The tragedy is Arudhati Bhattacharya, during whose term SBI waived corporate loans, saying farm loan waivers creates bad credit discipline among farmers.