Will BJP get benefit in Maharashtra elections due to onion becoming expensive, know the connection with Iran and Bangladesh

New Delhi: The war of words continues between the alliance of BJP and Congress in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Voting for the 288-member assembly elections is to be held on November 20. As the elections are getting closer, the sound of one more thing is being heard in Maharashtra elections, that is onion. This onion, which once made food tasty across the world from Iran or Central Asia, had made BJP cry in the Lok Sabha elections, 2024. Where the BJP led NDA alliance had to lose 12 out of total 13 seats in onion growing areas. But now this trend of onion is changing.
Actually, onion prices have been increasing for a long time. From Rs 60 per kg in Delhi-NCR, it has crossed Rs 100 in many other parts of the country. Let us understand from the experts whether this onion will disappoint the BJP led NDA alliance like in the Lok Sabha elections or will it give it the taste of victory.

Basmati won Haryana, will onion do wonders in Maharashtra?

In September this year, the central government had lifted the export ban on onion and basmati rice, which was seen as an attempt to woo farmers ahead of the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana. The effect of this decision was seen in the Haryana elections in October this year, where BJP achieved a big victory, destroying all the predictions of exit polls. Experts are making similar speculations in Maharashtra elections also, because even though onion prices have remained expensive in the country due to export ban, the onion belt of Maharashtra is benefiting a lot by sending onions abroad.

BJP emerged as leader in onion belt in 2019

In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, BJP emerged as the leader by winning 13 constituencies out of the total 35 assembly seats in onion growing areas. After that, undivided Shiv Sena won 6 seats, undivided NCP won 7, Congress won 5 and AIMIM won two. Two seats were won by independents.

Lost 12 seats in Lok Sabha elections due to onion

During the Lok Sabha elections, the Mahayuti, including the BJP, faced defeat in 12 out of 13 seats in the ‘Onion Belt’, including Dindori, Nashik, Beed, Aurangabad, Ahmednagar and Dhule. It could win only one Lok Sabha seat from these six districts. The share of this onion belt in the country’s onion production is approximately 34%. Onions from Maharashtra also go to Sri Lanka, UAE and Bangladesh.

Why have onion prices increased, when will they become cheaper?

According to Lalchand Pandey, a trader in Nagpur’s biggest market Kalmana, due to heavy rains in October in Maharashtra, the country’s top onion producing state, there has been a delay in the arrival of the new crop of red onion, which has affected the entire country, especially Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. Like there is a supply shortage in North Indian states. According to Lalchand, domestic prices of onion may fall due to the arrival of new crop in the next 15-20 days.

Old stock of onion exhausted, delay in new arrival

According to Lalchand, the onion crop sown in Rabi season last year was harvested by March 2024. It was stored in stores. This old stock is now gone. At the same time, it is still taking time for the new crop to arrive. Onion prices have increased due to lack of coordination between demand and supply.

Three crops of onion each in Maharashtra, issue in elections

Onion becomes a big issue in electoral politics in Maharashtra because it is grown in three cycles in a year. Farmers in Maharashtra sow their Kharif onion crop in June and July. It is harvested from October. Whereas, late onion is sown between September and October and harvested after December. The most important Rabi crop of onion is sown from December to January and harvested after March.

Is onion grown in Iran or Pakistan?

Many archaeologists, botanists and food historians believe that onion originated in Central Asia. At the same time, in some research it has been said that onion was first grown in Iran and West Pakistan. It is believed that onion was an important part of the diet of our prehistoric ancestors.

Onion cultivation has been going on for 5000 years

Most researchers agree that onions have been cultivated for 5000 years or more. Since onion was growing wild in different areas thousands of years ago. Even in Charak Samhita, there are mentions of treatment using onion.