Analysis: Punjab, UP polls, ‘Pandavas’ Agyathavaas’ are reasons behind repeal of farm laws

Pragmatic turn unusual for government that has taken tough decisions but assessment shows it is not so

Prime Minister during a Friday morning address to the nation that his government was taking back the is being seen as a natural fallout of the traction that protests by farmers’ groups against these laws have had in States going to the polls in early 2022, especially Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

BJP leaders from western Uttar Pradesh told The Hindu that while the specifics of the three laws did not affect farmers in the area, there was a “shared sense of grievance in terms of low returns on agriculture and soaring electricity bills.” The region accounts for nearly 130 of the 400-odd seats in the State Assembly.

“While the Uttar Pradesh government did increase the procurement price for sugar cane [the main crop in the region], it was ₹10 less per hectare than what was demanded. Also, what happened in Lakhimpur Kheri has also had a negative impact. The impending alliance between the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal would have been formidable if the issue of farmers’ protests had not been resolved,” said a senior Union Minister.