In a statement, Ramachandran Pillai, president, and K.Varadhrajan, secretary, said that there were many incongruities and deficiencies in the minimum support prices fixed by the government. The peasants and their organisations had always demanded that the minimum support prices should be fixed taking into consideration the cost of production and a reasonable profit.

``There have also been serious criticisms about the manner in which the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices is calculating the minimum support prices for crops. The Central government has not considered any of these, ‘’ the statement said.

``The Central government has not explained the delay of one month and the reason for making this announcement after the declaration of elections. The minimum support prices were decided by the BJP-led caretaker government without discussing with other political parties and major peasant organisations. It seems that the government intends to make use of the declaration of the minimum support prices for narrow electoral gains,’’ it said.