Discontent among onion growers cost ruling 'Mahayuti' dearly in LS polls: Ajit Pawar

Pune: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday acknowledged that discontent among onion growers over issues related to the kitchen staple, including low prices, contributed in dismal performance of the ruling Mahayuti's in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

He said the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP alliance had to "pay the price" for discontent among farmers in the onion growing belt of the state, including Nashik, where the ruling coalition fared poorly in the polls.

Pawar's statement came three days after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde admitted farm distress cost the Mahayuti alliance dearly and added "Onions made us cry in Nashik, soybean and cotton in Marathwada and Vidarbha (in polls)." Talking to reporters in Pune, Pawar said they were constantly speaking about the need for support price for onion, and said the interest of both farmers and consumers should be protected.

He maintained the Mahayuti faced a beating in all Lok Sabha seats in the onion growing belt barring Jalgaon and Raver.

A ban on onion export by the Centre in December last year to control retail prices led to protests by farmers, especially in the Nashik belt. The ban was eventually lifted in early May.

The Shiv Sena and its ally BJP lost Nashik and Dindori Lok Sabha seats, respectively. The alliance could only win one seat in Marathwada and just two in Vidarbha.