Swabhimani Paksha claims that policies of the NDA government have helped tame onion prices. Swabhimani Paksha claims that policies of the NDA government have helped tame onion prices.

The war over onion prices is hotting up in poll-bound Maharashtra. Swabhimani Paksha, a minor ally of the BJP-led NDA government, has alleged that policies of the Narendra Modi government have helped tame onion prices.

Swabhimani Paksha leader Sadabhau Khot alleged BJP leaders were afraid that lifting of MEP restriction would allow the NCP to rig the market to drive onion prices up. "With Assembly polls a month away, BJP leaders fear that sky-rocketing prices of onion may turn the tide against the BJP-Shiv Sena combine. This is why they do not want to lift the restrictions on onion exports," said Khot whose party had allied with the BJP-led NDA ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Swabhimani Paksha is likely to contest the Assembly polls in the state as an ally of the BJP-Sena combine. Its poll prospects hinge on support from farmers and traders who believe that the NDA government's move to curb rising onion prices has hurt them.

Responding to Khot's allegations, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, "Instead of levelling baseless allegations against the NCP, Swabhimani Paksha should withdraw support to the Modi government whose policiesare anti-farmer." Countering Khot's allegations, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said it was not appropriate to take to the streets when the government was still in its infancy. "We should give them time and exhaust all alternatives before taking to the streets," he said.

The Union government has fixed the minimum export price (MEP) on onion at $350 per tonne, which according to the farmers, is uncompetitive in the global market. BJP leader Vinod Tawde said the issue of onion exports had been brought to the notice of ministers concerned.