Archive · 24 Aug 2026
How the 25-Paise Chavanni Became a Political Insult
A chavanni was an Indian coin worth 25 paise.
It stopped being legal money in 2011.
Even though people cannot use it to buy things now, politicians still use its name.
They use chavanni to suggest that another politician has very little value or importance.
Akhilesh Yadav appeared to use the word against Jayant Chaudhary after Chaudhary left an alliance and joined another one.
Chaudhary had earlier said he was not someone who could easily change sides.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also used the term while discussing the 2016 demonetisation debate.
In 2024, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma used it to attack Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi.
Congress then said Channi’s comments did not represent the party’s position.
A chavanni, or 25-paise coin, was demonetised by the Reserve Bank of India in 2011.
Akhilesh Yadav used the term as an apparent reference to Jayant Chaudhary leaving the SP-led alliance for the BJP-led NDA.
Chaudhary had earlier said in 2022 that he was not a chavanni who could be made to flip easily.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used chavanni in 2016 while defending the demonetisation of the coin and criticising Congress.
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma used the term against Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi in July 2024, while Congress later distanced itself from Channi’s remarks.
- Who
- Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma, and Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi are central to the examples.
- What
- The word chavanni, once used for a 25-paise coin, has become a political metaphor for low worth and an insult.
- When
- The coin was demonetised in 2011; the cited political uses occurred in 2016, January 2022, July 2024, and a recent statement by Akhilesh Yadav.
- Where
- The examples come from Indian political discourse, including Uttar Pradesh and Parliament.
- Why
- Politicians use chavanni to question an opponent’s political value, stature, consistency, or credibility.
Those using chavanni as criticism
Those targeted or distancing themselves
Jayant Chaudhary’s alliance switch
Those using chavanni as criticism
Akhilesh Yadav’s remark was interpreted in the Rashtriya Lok Dal as a jab at Chaudhary for leaving the SP-led alliance and joining the BJP-led NDA.
Those targeted or distancing themselves
Chaudhary had previously rejected the idea that he would easily change sides, but later ended his SP alliance and joined the BJP-led coalition.
The 2016 demonetisation debate
Those using chavanni as criticism
Narendra Modi argued that Congress had no standing to criticise demonetisation because its government had demonetised the 25-paise coin in 2011 without consultations.
Those targeted or distancing themselves
The article notes that Congress and other Opposition parties opposed the BJP-led government’s 2016 demonetisation move.
Charanjit Singh Channi’s comments
Those using chavanni as criticism
Dinesh Sharma accused Channi of expressing sympathy for a terrorist after Channi described Amritpal Singh’s detention under the National Security Act as part of an undeclared Emergency.
Those targeted or distancing themselves
Congress said Channi’s views were personal and did not represent the party’s position.
- Meaning
- Chavanni refers to a 25-paise coin.
- Legal status
- The Reserve Bank of India demonetised the coin in 2011.
- Latest cited use
- Akhilesh Yadav said his side had turned a chavanni into a rupee, then saw it leave; the remark was read as referring to Jayant Chaudhary.
- Jayant Chaudhary’s move
- Chaudhary left the SP-led Opposition alliance in Uttar Pradesh and joined the BJP-led NDA before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
- Earlier Chaudhary remark
- In January 2022, Chaudhary said he was not a chavanni who could simply flip sides.
- Narendra Modi’s use
- Modi invoked chavanni in 2016 while defending the government’s demonetisation decision and criticising Congress.
- 2024 parliamentary use
- Dinesh Sharma said Charanjit Singh Channi did not have even the worth of a chavanni; Congress later distanced itself from Channi’s remarks.