Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023: In the upcoming November elections in five Indian states, inflation is set to be a major focal point. Particularly, Telangana and Rajasthan face the challenge of high prices, consistently above the national average.
Recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for September 2023 highlights that Rajasthan had the highest retail inflation at 6.53%, while Telangana recorded nearly 6%. Rajasthan’s average retail inflation from April to September was notably higher than the national average, at 6.66%. Although Telangana’s inflation rate dropped below 6% in September, it had soared to 10% in 2021.
Rajasthan to vote on November 25
Rajasthan will vote on November 25, and Telangana on November 30, with counting scheduled for December 3. Comparatively, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, also heading to the polls, have lower inflation rates than the national average, making inflation a more pressing issue for Rajasthan and Telangana.
Inflation remains a prominent issue in state elections, with opposition parties like the Indian National Congress (INC) leveraging it to gain support, as seen in their recent wins in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.
The INC’s focus on economic issues and pro-poor campaigns has been credited with their success. Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw emphasized the importance of infrastructure development, economic prosperity, and social harmony in determining voters’ choices.
Price control on priority:
The states going to the polls have prioritized controlling prices, promising subsidies on cooking gas, income guarantee schemes, and higher pensions to ease the burden on consumers. Inflation, particularly in food prices, has been a persistent concern since June, even though it moderated in September.
In July, retail inflation reached a 15-month high of 7.44%. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has cautioned that domestic disruptions, coupled with global and regional uncertainties, may keep inflationary pressures elevated in the coming months.
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