Thirty Congress MLAs were suspended from the Chhattisgarh legislative assembly for a day on Thursday after they created an uproar over what they alleged was the state government’s failure to ensure an adequate supply of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser.
The ruckus forced Speaker Raman Singh to adjourn the House twice as Congress members shouted slogans and stormed into the well, demanding answers.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, senior Congress MLA Umesh Patel asked about the demand and supply of DAP fertiliser in the state and whether there was a shortage.
In response, state Agriculture Minister Ramvichar Netam said that for the 2025 kharif crop season, the Centre had set a target of 3,10,000 metric tonnes of DAP for Chhattisgarh. A supply plan of 2,19,100 metric tonnes was issued by the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers for April to June 2025, out of which 1,08,155 metric tonnes had been supplied till June 30.
He added that a total of 1,48,900 metric tonnes had been stored, including 40,746 metric tonnes saved from the previous rabi season. Netam admitted there was a shortfall in the current kharif season’s supply plan up to June 30, but said alternative phosphatic fertilisers were being stocked and farmers encouraged to use them.
Patel argued that less than half of the total demand had been supplied so far and questioned the quantities given to cooperative societies and the private sector. The minister said that 64 per cent of the stock had gone to cooperatives and 36 per cent to private sellers.
Netam said the state departments were coordinating with the Centre to ensure DAP supply and that by July 20 another 18,885 metric tonnes would arrive. On Thursday, 718 metric tonnes were due to reach Kharsia, Patel’s constituency.
He added that a shortage was affecting the entire country due to global factors, and that nano DAP fertiliser was being promoted to fill the gap.
However, Congress members claimed that while DAP was scarce in cooperatives, it was readily available in the private sector, where shopkeepers were allegedly black marketing it and selling it at inflated prices.
Unhappy with the reply, Congress members created chaos, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the House for five minutes. When the session resumed, the opposition continued their protest, entered the well again and were automatically suspended.
Speaker Raman Singh then announced the suspension of 30 Congress MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, asking them to leave the House. But the Congress members stayed in the well and kept shouting slogans.
The Speaker later adjourned the House once more. After the proceedings resumed, he expressed displeasure, saying he was pained that the suspended MLAs had defied repeated requests to vacate the well, and confirmed their suspension for the day.
The Congress currently holds 35 seats in the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly.
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