MP Congress calls statewide 'mahachakka jam' on May 7 over wheat MSP row
Synopsis
Choosing Shivraj Singh Chouhan's own hometown as the stage, MP Congress president Jitu Patwari announced a statewide road blockade on May 7, alleging farmers are selling wheat at up to ₹900 below the official MSP of ₹2,700 per quintal — a direct challenge to the BJP government's claim that procurement is running smoothly.
Key Takeaways
MP Congress announced a statewide 'mahachakka jam' road blockade on 7 May 2025 over farmers' issues.
Congress president Jitu Patwari alleged farmers are selling wheat at ₹1,800–₹2,200 per quintal against the official MSP of ₹2,700 per quintal .
The blockade will stretch along the Agra-Bombay National Highway from the Maharashtra border to Rajasthan, covering districts including Gwalior, Morena, Khargone , and others.
The Centre recently raised MP's wheat procurement quota to 100 lakh metric tonnes ; the BJP government maintains procurement is transparent and farmer-friendly.
The announcement was made in Budhni , hometown of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan , in a pointed political move.
Madhya Pradesh Congress on Tuesday, 28 April 2025, announced a statewide 'mahachakka jam' (road blockade) on 7 May over alleged injustice to farmers, even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government maintained that wheat procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) is proceeding smoothly across the state.
The Announcement
State Congress president Jitu Patwari made the announcement while addressing a farmers' programme in Budhni, the hometown of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in Sehore district. Patwari said the party would organise a large-scale road blockade along the Agra-Bombay National Highway if the alleged injustice against farmers is not addressed immediately.
He stated that the protest on 7 May would stretch from the Maharashtra border to Rajasthan, passing through several districts including Sendhwa, Barwani, Khargone, Dhar, Dewas, Shajapur, Guna, Rajgarh, Shivpuri, Morena, and Gwalior.
Congress Allegations Against the BJP Government
Patwari alleged that farmers in Madhya Pradesh are facing a range of systemic problems during the ongoing Rabi marketing season. These include shortages of fertiliser, a lack of gunny bags, delays at mandis, and issues with slot booking systems at procurement centres.
Crucially, he claimed that while the government publicly quotes an MSP of ₹2,700 per quintal for wheat, farmers are reportedly being forced to sell at prices between ₹1,800 and ₹2,200 per quintal — a gap of up to ₹900 per quintal below the official rate.
What the BJP Government Said
The BJP government led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has rejected these allegations, asserting that procurement is transparent and farmer-friendly. The Centre recently increased Madhya Pradesh's wheat procurement quota to 100 lakh metric tonnes, citing higher production and arrivals this season. State officials have maintained that procurement is being carried out properly and in the interest of farmers.
Political Context
The announcement comes amid a sharpening political row between the Congress and the BJP over agrarian issues in Madhya Pradesh, a state where farmer welfare has historically been a decisive electoral concern. Notably, Patwari chose Budhni — the constituency closely associated with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan — as the venue for the declaration, a move widely seen as a deliberate political signal.
This is not the first time the Congress has used road blockades to press agrarian demands in the state; similar protests have periodically flared up during procurement seasons in recent years.
What Happens Next
With the 7 May deadline approaching, the BJP is expected to intensify its counter-messaging around procurement figures and MSP compliance. Whether the government addresses Congress's specific grievances — particularly around slot booking delays and below-MSP sales — before the protest date will be closely watched by farmers and political observers alike.
Point of View
The man most associated with MP's farmer-friendly brand of BJP politics. The real question, however, is not optics but arithmetic: if farmers are indeed selling wheat at ₹900 below MSP, that is a structural failure of the procurement machinery, not just a political talking point. The BJP's counter-claim of smooth procurement rings hollow without district-level data on actual transaction prices. With MP's rural vote bank perpetually contested, the government cannot afford to let this narrative solidify ahead of the protest.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'mahachakka jam' announced by MP Congress?
It is a statewide road blockade planned for 7 May 2025 along the Agra-Bombay National Highway, stretching from the Maharashtra border to Rajasthan. The Congress announced it to protest alleged injustice to farmers during the ongoing wheat procurement season.
What are the farmers' grievances cited by Congress?
Congress president Jitu Patwari alleged that farmers face fertiliser shortages, lack of gunny bags, mandi delays, and slot booking problems. He also claimed farmers are being forced to sell wheat at ₹1,800–₹2,200 per quintal instead of the official MSP of ₹2,700 per quintal.
What has the BJP government said about wheat procurement in MP?
The BJP government led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has rejected the allegations, saying procurement is transparent and farmer-friendly. The Centre also recently increased MP's procurement quota to 100 lakh metric tonnes, citing higher production.
Which districts will the May 7 protest cover?
The blockade is planned to pass through Sendhwa, Barwani, Khargone, Dhar, Dewas, Shajapur, Guna, Rajgarh, Shivpuri, Morena, and Gwalior, along the Agra-Bombay National Highway.
Why did Jitu Patwari make the announcement in Budhni?
Budhni is the hometown of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and is closely associated with his political identity. Patwari's choice of venue is widely seen as a deliberate political signal targeting Chouhan's agrarian legacy.
