The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Tuesday, 26 May staged a large-scale farmers' march at Chandwad Chowphuli in Nashik district, demanding a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹3,000 per quintal for onions amid reports that growers are currently receiving as little as ₹200–300 per quintal for their produce. The agitation, called the Shetkari Kranti Maha Morcha, also included a road blockade during which police detained several leaders.

What the Protest Demanded

MVA leaders squarely blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government and the Devendra Fadnavis administration in Maharashtra for what they described as deliberate indifference to the distress of onion-growing farmers. Beyond the MSP demand, protesters called for the lifting of the onion export ban and direct procurement through Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs), warning that routing purchases through traders would deprive farmers of fair value.

The coalition warned it would continue to escalate the agitation until the government acts. A road blockade was staged during the march, and police reportedly detained multiple leaders using force — a move protesters said would not suppress the farmers' struggle.

Key Leaders and What They Said

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshvardhan Sapkal said rising input costs have made farming financially unviable, while agricultural produce continues to fetch unremunerative prices. He alleged that although the government had announced onion procurement, actual purchases had not commenced. Sapkal also alleged that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had repeatedly failed to honour promises made to farmers.

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) legislator Rohit Pawar issued a direct warning: 'This struggle of onion-producing farmers is not going to end so soon, and if no concrete decision is made in tomorrow's meeting, the onion-producing farmers will once again take to the streets and intensify their fight. However, that will not be affordable for this government, and the government must keep this in mind.'

Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Ambadas Danve said thousands of farmers gathered at the protest expressed intense anger against the government, and called for immediate concrete decisions to address the crisis.

Who Was Present

The march drew prominent opposition figures including NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde, Congress MP Shobha Bachhav, and NCP SP MP Bhagre Guruji, among others — signalling a coordinated MVA push ahead of what leaders indicated would be a critical government meeting the following day.

Background and What Is at Stake

Nashik district is India's largest onion-producing belt, making price crashes here a politically and economically sensitive issue. This is not the first time onion farmers in the region have taken to the streets — similar protests erupted in 2023 when export restrictions were imposed, triggering widespread rural distress. Critics argue that the absence of a statutory MSP for horticultural crops leaves onion growers structurally vulnerable to market volatility. With a government meeting reportedly scheduled for the next day, MVA leaders made clear they expect tangible commitments — or fresh protests will follow.