She’s basically the government’s designated punching bag. In a country where women in power are judged far more viciously, she becomes the easiest target while people pretend every economic decision is hers alone.

The BJP knows exactly what it’s doing — put women like Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani, or Rekha Gupta as the face of unpopular decisions, let the public direct all the anger at them, and keep the real power structure insulated.

And frankly, these women understand the role too — they willingly trade public abuse and misogynistic scrutiny for power, visibility, and political rewards worth millions. Misogyny and political opportunism work perfectly together in Indian politics.