Karnataka BJP slams Congress over ₹1,611 crore MSP dues to ragi farmers
Synopsis
Karnataka's MSP row is no longer just a procurement glitch — it is a kharif-season political flashpoint. With ₹1,611 crore reportedly stuck for over one lakh ragi farmers across Tumakuru, Hassan, Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru and Mandya, BJP's R. Ashoka has turned a payments delay into a direct test of the Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar government's fiscal credibility.
Key Takeaways
Ashoka alleges ₹1,611 crore in MSP dues are pending to over one lakh ragi farmers.
Largest backlog is in Tumakuru ( ₹370 crore , 34,543 farmers), followed by Hassan ( ₹320 crore ).
Other affected districts: Mysuru (₹179 cr), Chikkamagaluru (₹169 cr), Mandya (₹126 cr).
BJP has threatened statewide protests with farmers if dues are not cleared.
Ashoka also targeted outgoing CM Siddaramaiah , alleging he left the state in a financial crisis.
Karnataka Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka on Wednesday, 3 June, accused the Congress government in the state of withholding ₹1,611 crore in Minimum Support Price (MSP) dues owed to more than one lakh ragi farmers, even as the monsoon sets in across Karnataka. The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader warned of statewide protests if the payments under the Centre's MSP scheme are not released immediately.
The allegation
In a statement issued from Bengaluru, Ashoka alleged that farmers who sold ragi under the Centre-backed procurement programme are being forced to repeatedly approach the state government for money they have already earned. ‘On one hand, the monsoon has begun, and farmers are getting ready for cultivation. On the other hand, Karnataka's food producers are being forced to knock on the doors of the Congress government to receive the money they earned through their hard work,' he said.
District-wise break-up of pending dues
According to Ashoka, the largest pending amount is in Tumakuru, where ₹370 crore is reportedly owed to 34,543 farmers. Hassan follows with ₹320 crore due to 29,090 farmers, Mysuru with ₹179 crore to 16,659 farmers, Chikkamagaluru with ₹169 crore to 14,297 farmers, and Mandya with ₹126 crore to 11,521 farmers.
Why the timing matters
The dispute lands at the start of the kharif sowing window, when working capital needs peak for small and marginal farmers. Ashoka alleged that growers are now borrowing to buy seeds and fertilisers. ‘The reason is neither nature nor drought, but the bankrupt administration of the Congress government,' he claimed, adding that the state had funds for ‘large public events, chartered flights to Delhi, and activities aimed at pleasing the party high command' but not for farmer dues.
Political backdrop
The MSP attack comes as the BJP intensifies pressure on the Siddaramaiah-D.K. Shivakumar dispensation on multiple fronts. Ashoka has also questioned the delay in the state cabinet expansion, alleging that internal power struggles and concerns linked to the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections are holding up the process. He further alleged that outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah left the state in a ‘severe financial crisis' and was now focused on securing a ‘plum post' for his son — claims the Congress is yet to respond to in detail.
What's next
Ashoka demanded that the Karnataka government promptly clear the ₹1,611 crore backlog, warning that the BJP would launch agitations alongside farmers if the payments are not made. With sowing operations already underway, the political stakes around procurement payments are set to rise sharply in the coming weeks.
Point of View
611 crore figure, if accurate, is not a routine procurement lag — it is a structural cash-flow failure at the worst possible moment in the agricultural calendar. Karnataka's procurement architecture has historically struggled with reconciliation between Centre-funded MSP and state-level disbursement, and ragi — a crop dominated by smallholders in southern Karnataka — is especially sensitive to such delays. The Congress government's silence on a district-wise break-up only hands the BJP a ready-made narrative. Whichever way the politics turns, the underlying question is governance plumbing, not just optics.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ₹1,611 crore MSP dues row in Karnataka about?
BJP leader R. Ashoka has alleged that the Karnataka Congress government has withheld ₹1,611 crore in Minimum Support Price payments owed to more than one lakh farmers who sold ragi under the Centre's MSP scheme. He has demanded immediate release of the dues.
Which districts have the highest pending MSP payments?
According to Ashoka, Tumakuru tops the list with ₹370 crore owed to 34,543 farmers, followed by Hassan (₹320 crore), Mysuru (₹179 crore), Chikkamagaluru (₹169 crore) and Mandya (₹126 crore).
Why is the timing of the MSP delay significant?
The dues row coincides with the start of the monsoon and kharif sowing season, when farmers need working capital for seeds, fertilisers and land preparation. Ashoka alleged growers are being forced to borrow to fund cultivation.
What action has the BJP threatened?
Ashoka has warned that the BJP will launch statewide protests alongside farmers if the Karnataka government does not release the pending ₹1,611 crore promptly.
How does this tie into broader Karnataka politics?
The MSP attack comes amid BJP pressure on the Siddaramaiah-D.K. Shivakumar government over a delayed cabinet expansion and alleged fiscal mismanagement, with Ashoka accusing the outgoing CM of leaving the state in a financial crisis.
