What is a ‘chavanni’ worth in politics? The metaphor that became an insult

The 25-paise coin, commonly referred to as a "chavanni," continues to appear in political discussions despite no longer being legal tender. Recently, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav used the term metaphorically in a statement, seemingly criticizing Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary and his party for leaving the SP-led Opposition alliance to join the BJP-led NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

This usage of "chavanni" is seen as a pointed jab at Chaudhary, as it echoes a phrase he himself employed during the 2022 UP Assembly poll campaign, in which he questioned whether he was a "25 paise coin" that would flip sides. The term has a history of being used politically, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi employing it in 2016 to rebuke the Congress and other Opposition parties for opposing demonetisation, a move that the BJP had implemented in 2011.

BJP MP Dinesh Sharma also used the term in July 2024 to criticize Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi, who had made controversial remarks about the detention of another MP under the National Security Act. Sharma's use of "chavanni" was in response to Channi's diminished view of his own worth, comparing him to a coin of insignificant value.