BJP Lost Polls As It Failed To Check Farm Distress: Yogendra Yadav

“Farm distress was a major factor and the BJP’s inability to address it cost them,” Yadav said.

Farm distress was a major factor and the BJP’s inability to address it cost them, the president of Swaraj India told BloombergQuint.

(Photo courtesy: Canva/The Quint)

The Bharatiya Janata Party, after losing three state polls in the Indian heartland, will look to turn the tide ahead of the 2019 General Elections, said Yogendra Yadav.

Farm distress was a major factor and the BJP's inability to address it cost them, the president of Swaraj India told BloombergQuint.

A loan waiver isn't enough, Yadav said, adding:

“There must be an institutional mechanism to ensure farmers are secured from private moneylenders. There must also be a mechanism to ensure that the benefits of increase in minimum support prices are reaped by farmers.”

A legal guarantee for all farmers, according to him, is another option the government could consider.

For once, in rare history, there is a political moment when farmers can actually get something.

Yogendra Yadav, President, Swaraj India

Yadav also said the centre may introduce schemes that are high on optics and political appeal to woo rural voters.

(This piece was originally published on Bloomberg Quint)