Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Farmers’ Friend

AGRICULTURE ACCOUNTS FOR A miniscule contri­bution to Delhi’s GDP but the capital’s ‘farmers’ are a constituency that political parties cannot ignore. Delhi’s farming activities are located on the Yamuna flood plains and areas such as Narela, Najafgarh and the Delhi-Gurugram border where vegetables and mustard are the common produce. The 100-odd ‘farm’ villages are a substantial electorate and BJP has asked Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union agriculture minister and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, to lead its outreach in these urban-rural pockets where land use has changed over the years. According to his office, Chouhan was “deeply moved” when he heard of the woes of the farmers who met him and promised to do his best to implement the Centre’s farmer welfare schemes that the AAP government is not rolling out in the capital. He shot off a letter to ‘Behen Atishi’, pleading that the farmers should not be punished and provided access to the schemes. Chouhan’s pleas, however, have an undercurrent ahead of the Delhi Assem­bly election. The rural belt has supported AAP in the past, electing local notables who were given tickets on the basis of their ability to fund their campaigns and influence. Chouhan, with his soft touch and apparently non-confrontational approach, is the right choice for BJP in a battle where every vote counts.

agriculture ministerBJPDelhi Assembly Electionpocketsrural-urbanShivraj Singh Chouhan