As Tamil Nadu exit polls take centre stage, rumours of an impending petrol and diesel price hike have been swirling on social media — fuelled by rising crude oil prices in international markets. With elections now concluded across five states, many expect the Centre to make a fuel pricing announcement in the days ahead.
Adding fuel to the speculation, Opposition leaders have been vocal in their warnings. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted on X that petrol and diesel prices would rise after April 29, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav echoed the concern, alleging that the BJP-led NDA government was likely to hike prices of petrol, diesel, cooking gas, and fertilisers once polling concluded across all five states.
Pushing back against the speculation, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, told reporters that the government has no plans to hike petrol or diesel prices, urging the public not to fall for rumours circulating on social media.
Seeking to further reassure the public, the Ministry clarified that LPG, petrol, and diesel are all available in sufficient quantities with no price revision in effect. Officials noted that panic buying had been reported at several fuel stations across the country, but stressed there is no shortage of oil anywhere and urged people not to stockpile fuel unnecessarily.
Meanwhile, petrol pumps in Yenam witnessed heavy footfall as residents from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh rushed to take advantage of the comparatively lower fuel prices there. The surge in demand was further compounded by a power outage in Andhra Pradesh and the ongoing crop harvesting season, both of which have significantly driven up the need for petrol and diesel in the region.
Supply disruptions from oil companies have led to a fuel shortage in the area over the past several days, further straining an already stretched situation. Adding to the rush, fuel prices in Yenam — a enclave of Puducherry surrounded by Andhra Pradesh — are significantly cheaper, running 12 to 14 rupees lower per litre than prices across the border in Andhra Pradesh.
The price difference has triggered a steady stream of buyers from Andhra Pradesh into Yenam, with long queues snaking outside petrol stations. Farmers and ordinary citizens alike have been arriving at fuel pumps with cans and barrels in tow, stocking up on petrol and diesel amid fears of a further price hike once the five-state election results are declared on May 4.
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