A constituent in the NDA, the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghathana, active mainly in Maharashtra, announced snapping of its ties with the alliance in Maharashtra and at the Centre citing dissatisfaction with the Narendra Modi government on its handling of farmers issues.
Party chief Raju Shetti is the lone MP from his party, elected to the Lok Sabha for the second time from Hatkanangale in Maharashtra. He spoke to The Hindu after the announcement was made and minced no words as to why he found it necessary to part ways with the NDA.
“In the 2014 polls, Prime Minister Modi had assured farmers that he would implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report on cost plus one and half times minimum support price. After being elected he promised to double farmers income. Neither of which has happened. In the last four years our import of agricultural products has gone up from ₹28,000 crores to ₹1,40,000 crores which has hit the market for our crops. I joined the NDA on the basis of the promises on farmers issues and since they are not being kept, I’m leaving the NDA,” he said.
His party has one MLC in the Maharashtra Assembly, Sadabhau Khot, who was elected with the help of the BJP and he is likely to stick to that party in this parting of ways, sources said.
Mr Shetti said that he would be leading a Kisan Mukti Yatra to the southern States from September 15 and may be joined by Swarajya Abhiyan chief Yogendra Yadav.