BJP and Opposition battle it out for the affections of the rural voter

Hiking paddy MSP by almost Rs 200 per quintal, as against Rs 80 per quintal last year, is of electoral value in major parts of eastern India

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition parties are in a battle over farm distress, set to unfold as legislative assembly election dates come nearer in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

The opposition has announced “massive” farmer and worker protests on August 9 and September 5. The BJP is conducting workshops for its adherents to spread the message of the Narendra Modi government’s “farm friendly” policies.

The BJP leadership is wary of repeating the 2004 ‘India Shining’ campaign, and of the recent Gujarat assembly poll, where it suffered in the rural areas. With elections to these three state assemblies and