Why onion price hikes in India affect elections

In India, onions can decide elections. That’s not a joke—it’s economic reality mixed with politics. Whenever onion prices surge, governments start sweating, and opposition parties get their favorite campaign issue served on a platter.

Onions are a staple in almost every Indian meal, and low-income households spend a large share of their income on food. When prices rise sharply, it’s not just about an extra ₹10 or ₹20—it’s about visible inflation that everyone feels every single day. Economists call this salience: certain prices capture public attention more than others.

Past elections have shown this vividly. In 1998, soaring onion prices were blamed for the BJP’s loss in Delhi. In 2019, similar spikes made national headlines again, forcing emergency exports bans and buffer stock releases.

The onion effect represents more than just food inflation—it’s a signal of government control, competence, and responsiveness. While GDP growth or fiscal data rarely sway voters, rising vegetable prices hit kitchen tables immediately. When households see prices double overnight, confidence in leadership drops fast.

That’s why policymakers in India watch onion prices almost as closely as the Election Commission watches polling dates. Because in Indian politics, losing control over onion prices can mean losing the next election.