In Vidarbha, BJP, Balakot and even Modi are on the backfoot

Modi Ji had addressed a rally in 2014 at Wardha and dwelt at length on how he would improve the condition of farmers, provide higher Minimum Support Price, help start food processing units, recalls a sullen Vijay Kuldariya from Dahegaon Miskin.

“A week ago, he again addressed a rally here but didn’t utter a word on the promises he had made. He only dwelt on Hindu-Muslim…who in his senses will vote for him,” wonders the farmer before walking away.

Farmers here are seething. The BJP Government, they believe, has benefitted the traders but farmers have been left in the lurch. “ In March-end, we sold cotton @ ₹5,400 per quintal but in the last few days, prices have gone up to @ ₹6,300 per quintal. The same thing happened with soyabean. Traders bought it @2,500 but are now selling it @3,600, making a killing,” complains Mustaq Sayyed.

The anger against narendra Modi is so palpable that many farmers dismissively call him a ‘loafer’ or a wanderer. “On Television he talks big and shows impressive advertisements, he also speaks a lot, makes promises but nothing reaches us,” says Yogesh Rangani in village Dorali.

He and other villagers were having a chat on how Modi has fooled the people. They had put their village on sale in 2005, they recalled, because of indebtedness and no work. “ We voted for Modi in 2014 and hoped for better days. But we were taken for a ride. We are still looking for buyers and would move away if we get buyers,” confides Rajendra Patil. Others nod in agreement.

“Wardha produces 20000 liters of milk everyday but the government buys only 11000 liters. We have to go out in search of buyers, to hotels, hostels to sell our produce. NAFED buys our pulses in April March every year but doesn’t pay till November,” he grumbles.

Sambhaji Raut bitterly asks, “where are Ache Din? Our life has moved from bad to worse…” Notebandi remains a sore point with many of them. “If he really got black money by scrapping old notes then where is that money?”

The ‘nationalism’ narrative doesn’t seem to be cutting any ice in Vidarbha at least. Indeed, many villagers believe that this is a jumla to divert people’s attention before the election. Has the BJP and the Prime Minister overplayed this card? “People are not fools,” fume too many of them to provide BJP much comfort.

Another sore point is the Rupees two thousand which some small and marginal farmers seem to have received. But the money, the first instalment under the Shetkari Krushi Sanman Yojna, they believe is too meagre to do them any good.

“What can we buy with ₹2000,” they ask. Raut quips, “rates of pesticides, fertilisers and seeds go up by ₹300-500 every season. We can buy only one bag of fertilizer with this money. We need higher MSP for our produce. We don’t need this ₹2000 or 6000.”

Vidarbha is going through another period of drought and farm labourers are out of work. However, even during Monsoon farm labourers like Vijay Gandane claim to get work only on two to four days every week. As many as 30% of the villagers are farm labour in the villages and they have no recourse but to migrate to cities. Not all of them can afford it though for various reasons and some do not like to migrate.

They are also bitter because they say they haven’t seen the face of local MP, Ramdas Tadas from the BJP. Nobody in Dorali village has received any loan waiver. Upset famers wonder why the Government had to announce a loan waiver of ₹36000 Crore in the first place.

“It’s all a show … farmers do not get any waiver but the Government takes credit and keep releasing advertisements. I am sure they have not spent ₹36000 Crore. Farmers also don’t get subsidies of various schemes like farm ponds, sericulture, floriculture despite being eligible.”

Distrust runs deep about politics and politicians. But less than 24 hours before polling, Bharatiya Janata Party certainly looks to be on the back foot in Vidarbha.