Congress Plans Farmer Outreach Across Six States, Targets India–US Interim Trade Deal

The Congress party has intensified its opposition to the proposed India–United States interim trade deal, calling it “anti-farmer” and announcing a series of farmer conferences across six politically significant states.

At a strategy meeting held in New Delhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi met with senior leaders from Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra to chart out the campaign roadmap.

Coordinating With Farmer Groups

The party alleges that the interim trade arrangement with the United States would expose Indian farmers to unfair competition from heavily subsidized American agricultural products. Rahul Gandhi has warned that cotton, soybean, maize, and horticulture farmers could be adversely impacted if import restrictions are relaxed and markets are opened without adequate safeguards.

Congress leaders argue that while American farmers receive substantial subsidies, Indian farmers operate with comparatively limited support, making them vulnerable to price shocks and declining incomes.

The party is also seeking closer coordination with independent farmer organizations. Drawing lessons from the nationwide mobilization against the now-repealed farm laws, Congress believes that when political parties and farmer unions align, agrarian issues can dominate national discourse. However, political observers caution that farmer leadership must remain autonomous for the movement to retain credibility.

Focus on Politically Key States

The six states chosen for the farmer conferences are agriculturally and politically significant.

• Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are major producers of soybean and cotton.
• Rajasthan cultivates cotton and mustard.
• Bihar has strong maize and horticulture output.
• Himachal Pradesh is known for fruit farming.
• Jammu & Kashmir’s economy relies heavily on apples and dry fruits.

The party has scheduled its first conference in Bhopal on February 24, followed by Yavatmal on March 7 and Sri Ganganagar on March 9. Both Kharge and Gandhi are expected to attend, signaling the leadership’s direct involvement. The outreach is seen as an attempt to energize the party cadre and reinforce Congress’ presence in rural politics ahead of upcoming elections.

Parliamentary and Policy Pressure

Inside Parliament, Congress is demanding full disclosure of the trade deal’s terms. The party plans to raise the matter through debates, adjournment motions, and formal questions, seeking greater transparency from the central government. If detailed provisions are not made public, Congress intends to position itself as advocating accountability and farmer protection.

Beyond agriculture, the party has also flagged concerns over energy imports. It claims that between February 2022 and January 2026, India imported crude oil worth approximately $168 billion from Russia. Congress argues that any shift in energy sourcing under trade realignments could contribute to inflationary pressures.

Opportunity and Risk

Political analysts note that while the strategy offers Congress an opportunity to consolidate rural support, it also carries risks. Trade agreements involve complex provisions, and if immediate price declines or income losses are not evident, the urgency of the issue may diminish. Additionally, the party’s organizational strength varies across states, making sustained mobilization a logistical challenge.

Nevertheless, by combining parliamentary intervention with grassroots outreach, Congress appears to be attempting a calibrated return to farmer-centric politics. If the campaign expands to address local concerns such as Minimum Support Price (MSP), crop insurance, and rising input costs, opposition to the trade deal could evolve into a broader agrarian movement.

For Congress, the campaign represents more than resistance to a trade agreement—it signals a strategic effort to reclaim political ground in India’s rural heartland.