New Delhi: Prime Minister’s decision of repealing three controversial farms laws three months ahead of assembly elections in five states seen has Centre is trying to reach out to agitating farmers of three states, Punjab, UP and Hariyana.

Farms laws created bad blood between farmers and the Modi government. Farmers are the biggest vote-bank spread across communities for any party.

Farm laws were being opposed mainly by farmers in Punjab, parts of Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are going to the polls in February-March 2022.

In western Uttar Pradesh, sugarcane farming was a bigger concern for farmers than wheat and paddy. This makes the debate over farm laws and minimum support price (MSP) less relevant for election, India Today reported.

Further, the protesting farmers were dominantly drawn from the Jat community in western Uttar Pradesh. The caste equation makes it less impactful for the BJP in this region, where Jats are considered dominating the social order and rivalled by so-called lower castes such as Gujjars, Pals and Sainis.

Punjab was a major hurdle as Jat-Sikh farmers are in greater numbers. BJP is trying to make a footprint in Punjab after its junior partner Akali Dal parted ways. Now it has found a new partner in Punjab and decided to make an alliance with former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, a resolution of farmers’ protest was a precondition. Killing a dead law was not to be a problem.

Almost immediate reaction from Captain Amarinder Singh augurs well for the BJP in Punjab.

 “Great news! Thankful to PM @narendramodi ji for acceding to the demands of every Punjabi & repealing the 3 black laws on the pious occasion of #GuruNanakJayanti. I am sure the central govt will continue to work in tandem for the development of Kisani! #NoFarmers_NoFood @AmitShah (sic).”, Amarinder Singh tweeted.

Dent to Modi image

Farmers, opposition leaders termed the Modi government as arrogant and not heeding the demand of the majority of farmers. The tough leader image of Modi is now dented with taking the decision to repeal farms laws. Now he is not only repealing the three laws but also apologising to the farmers for he failed to convince them regarding farms laws.