THE Opposition Congress boy cotted Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly proceedings on Monday, alleging large-scale mis management in paddy procurement by the State Government. During Zero Hour, Leader of the Opposition Charan Das Mahant and other Congress legislators moved an adjournment motion for a detailed discussion. They claimed inadequate arrangements had left farmers struggling to obtain tokens for selling produce. They further alleged that paddy from farmers holding Forest Rights Certificates (FRCs) for forest land was not being procured.

 

Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel called the issue ‘serious,’ linking it directly to farmers’ interests, and demand ed the motion’s admission. Speaker Raman Singh permitted debate on its admissibility. Congress members noted that Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement for the Kharif Marketing Year 2025–26 began on November 15 and will continue until January 31, 2026. They described this season’s problems as unprecedented in 25 years, citing the lack of automatic data carryover from the previous year. This forced fresh registrations at cooperative societies, leav ing nearly 5% of farmers unregistered and over four lakh land records pending.

 

The opposition highlighted that the farmers are dis tressed over online registration and token issue, including a reported suicide attempt by a farmer in Mahasamund after failing to get a token. They also claimed cooperative societies were procuring only 12–15 quintals per acre based on crop damage reports instead of the standard 21 quintals. Discrepancies in the un updated AgriStack portal for 2025–26 were preventing farmers from selling full yields. Baghel stated that, as of December 14, only 35 lakh metric tonnes of paddy had been procured against a 160-lakh MT target.

 

Of 27.36 lakh registered farmers, just 6.95 lakh had sold produce, accusing the government of reluctance to buy more. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dayaldas Baghel countered that procurement was proceeding smoothly at 2,739 centres with strict monitoring against illegal transport. He said 27.40 lakh farmers had registered via the Integrated Farmer Portal and AgriStack up from 25.49 lakh last year with exemptions for FRC holders, village kotwars, and others. A 24-hour ‘Tuhar Token’ app had issued 17.24 lakh tokens, enabling 87 lakh tonnes procured.

 

Farmers could book up to 20 days ahead, with Rs 7,771 crore paid by December 11. The Speaker disallowed the adjournment notice post reply. Dissatisfied and calling the minister’s claims incorrect, Congress members walked out and boycotted the day’s proceedings.