Mumbai: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former finance minister Yashvant Sinha’s chosen place of agitation — Akola, in Vidarbha, has been an area of concern for the BJP. Akola in Western Vidarbha is one of the districts in the state that has recorded the highest number of farmers’ suicides cases in the past.
The questions raised by Mr Sinha have the potential of questioning BJP’s claims of successful implementation of agrarian reforms.
Vidarbha has been a fort for the BJP and the party is heavily banking on the region for its political fortunes in Maharashtra.
The BJP government in state has been extra conscious about the party’s efforts in Vidarbha. As the region is highly dependent on agriculture, Mr Sinha’s agitation on farmer’s issues in Vidarbha is a serious concern for state’s BJP.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis who himself comes from the region understands the gravity of the agitation and his government has made claims of tremendous reforms in agriculture in the last three years of his tenure. According to Mr Fadnavis, the state has seen a 12 per cent growth in agriculture in this time.
“Farming is facing a serious crisis but our government is doing every possible thing to come out of this crisis. CM saheb has successfully conveyed this to Sinha saheb, which is why the protest has been called off,” said Sanjay Dhotre, MP from Akola and a senior leader of BJP. The party insid-ers believe that had Mr Sinha’s agitation been stretched for long, it could have damage the party’s prospectus in Vidarbha.
