Ajit Pawar Apologizes for Onion Export Ban

Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President, publicly apologized to onion farmers for the central government's export ban, admitting it was a mistake that adversely affected the ruling Mahayuti alliance in recent elections. During his 'Jan Sanman Yatra', he assured farmers that there would be no future bans on onion exports and pledged support for agricultural issues, including waiving electricity bills. The export ban, initially imposed in December 2023 to control price surges, was met with significant backlash from farmers, which contributed to electoral losses for the BJP-led coalition. Pawar's outreach also includes the announcement of the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, aimed at empowering women ahead of the upcoming assembly polls. He emphasized the government's commitment to long-term support for farmers and women, highlighting a budget allocation of ₹45,000 crore for various welfare schemes. The NCP's Jan Sanman Yatra is part of a strategy to regain voter trust before the elections in October.