While low prices of onions and the ban on their export are said to have hit the Mahayuti in North Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha elections, the high cost of onions has added to the ruling alliance’s worries ahead of the Assembly polls. Sensing trouble, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ordered action against the hoarders under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980.

A release from the CM’s team said that since the common people were being hit by rising onion prices, Shinde had taken serious note of hoarding. “The Food and Civil Supplies Department has been asked to take action against traders who are hoarding onions beyond the permissible limit,” it added.