GUWAHATI: A newly emerged group named the “E20 Janta Party” has become the centre of a growing debate over India’s ethanol-blended petrol policy, with its campaign for providing 100% petrol as an alternative gaining rapid traction on social media.
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The group, which surfaced online recently, has attracted thousands of followers within a short period, with its page witnessing a sharp rise in engagement. At the time of filing this report, the group’s social media following had crossed 300,000, with the number continuing to increase.
Unlike traditional political outfits, the E20 Janta Party has emerged as a digital movement focused on fuel choice, demanding that consumers should have the option to select between ethanol-blended petrol and pure petrol at fuel stations.
The group has also raised questions over transparency in fuel distribution, urging petrol pumps to clearly display the ethanol blend percentage in the fuel being sold. It has sought detailed studies and publicly available data on the impact of ethanol blends on vehicle performance, maintenance costs and emissions.
The campaign has now moved beyond social media, with sections of the transport sector expressing similar concerns. According to the reports, The Delhi Taxi and Tourist Transporters and Tour Operators Association has announced a march to Parliament on August 4, claiming that ethanol-blended fuel has affected vehicle mileage and increased maintenance expenses.
Transport operators have particularly raised concerns over older vehicles, which continue to form a significant part of India’s commercial transport fleet, and questioned how ethanol-blended fuel performs in such vehicles.
The government, however, has maintained that there is no widespread evidence linking ethanol-blended petrol with major vehicle-related problems. Officials have said that complaints regarding the fuel have not been significant or supported by substantial data.
With its growing online presence and increasing public discussion around fuel choice, the E20 Janta Party has emerged as a new voice in the ongoing debate over India’s transition towards ethanol-blended petrol.