Elections in India continue to solidify the perception that the electorate is highly sensitive to the narrative around financial gains and losses. Whether it is the issue of price rises, the soaring prices of onions, or the current era of schemes where cash is directly handed out to women, Indian voters have always been quick to respond to issues that affect their pockets.

As a result, political parties have increasingly tailored their campaigns to highlight or promise financial benefits, understanding that voter sensitivity to these issues can be a decisive factor in securing votes.

Onion Prices: A Major Issue Since the 80s

Price rise has been a major issue in various elections across the country, at least since the 1980s when Indira Gandhi, then in opposition, made the incessant rise in onion prices a key issue against the Janata Party government. She famously wore garlands of onions around her neck during the campaign. The slogan “Jis sarkar ka keemat par jor nahi, usse desh chalane ka adhikar nahi” (The government that cannot control prices has no right to rule the country) was coined during this time.

This issue, along with Indira Gandhi's political charisma, led to the fall of the Janata Party government, and she returned to power with a thumping majority.

BJP’s Struggles During the Great Onion Crisis of 1998

The BJP, which has so far provided three Chief Ministers to Delhi, has historically been strong in the region, with governments in neighboring states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. However, it faced a significant setback during the 'Great Onion Crisis' of 1998. The soaring onion prices led to a rout in Delhi, where both Chief Ministers Saheb Singh Verma and Sushma Swaraj struggled to control the price hikes and were forced to step down. The BJP has yet to recover from this loss in Delhi.

Also Read: Throne of Delhi : AAP and Congress locked in bitter feud

BJP’s Price Rise Campaign in 2013-2014

In opposition, Congress had always been able to capitalize on price rises, both at the national and state levels. However, during the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when the BJP positioned Narendra Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate, price rise became a major issue. The BJP turned the tables by launching the campaign "Bahut hui mehngayi ki maar, abki baar Modi sarkar" (Enough of rising prices, this time it’s Modi’s government). This resonated deeply with the common man, who was struggling with the burden of price hikes.

Delhi Elections: A Financial Focus in 2025

In the 2025 Delhi elections, the main contenders are once again framing their campaigns around financial relief, offering a range of financial benefits to the voters. The rise in financial promises echoes the same dynamics from past elections.

The Rise of Cash Handout Schemes

Political parties have increasingly embraced cash handout schemes, and the Delhi elections are seeing fierce competition among parties promising financial benefits, in addition to freebies like free electricity. This trend, which began in states like Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, has now become a mainstay in electoral campaigns across India.