LPG Price Cut: As Govt Slashes LPG Price, Opposition Calls It Political Move Ahead Of Key Polls

As the Union Government slashed the cooking gas prices of a 14 kg cylinder by Rs 200 on August 29, the opposition was quick to call it a a political move ahead of the key assembly polls and general elections scheduled to be held next year near.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to X platform, previously known as Twitter, commenting, "A sudden slash in LPG prices by Mr. Modi. Why now, you may ask? Karnataka rout of the BJP- the high price of LPG was one of the main issues of the election. Two highly successful INDIA meetings in two months and the third coming up in 2 days. Congress govt in Karnataka has implemented its 5 Guarantees in 100 days. Congress govt in Rajasthan is giving LPG cylinders at ₹500."

The response has been phenomenal as people were hurting from BJP's misgovernance. Three months before the 5 state elections, where BJP is staring at certain defeat, and six months before the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP is literally clutching at straws. Expect more such 'gifts' in the coming months as the Prime Minister becomes even more desperate to cling on to his chair, added the Congress leader.

Here Jairam Ramesh's tweet:

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that Centre decided to cut LPG prices due to the impact of INDIA opposition alliance. Banerjee said in a post on X, "Till now, only TWO meetings have been held in the past TWO months by the INDIA alliance and today, we see that LPG prices have gone down by Rs. 200. ये है #INDIA का दम!"

Here is Mamata Benerjee's tweet:

It is worth mentioning that over two dozen opposition parties on July 18 had formed the alliance namely "INDIA" to take on the ruling BJP party in the upcoming general elections likely to be held in May 2024.

Earlier on Tuesday, the BJP-led central government slashed the cooking gas prices by Rs 200 per cylinder for all domestic consumers.

With the latest move, the union government hit two targets with one arrow as it is reportedly keeping an eye on the upcoming crucial elections and offered relief to people from soaring inflation that touched 15-month high to 7.44% earlier this year in July.

The government opted to introduce subsidy again in cooking gas for consumers after it was withdrawn in 2020.

The union cabinet has also given its approval for an additional subsidy of Rs 200 under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) thus taking the entire amount of subsidy for Ujjwala scheme beneficiaries to Rs 400.

The latest decision of slashing the price of cooking gas will put a burden of Rs 7,500 crore on the exchequer.

"PM Modi has decided ₹200 reduction in the price of domestic LPG cylinders, for all users...this is a gift from PM Narendra Modi, to the women of the country, during the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and Onam," stated Union Minister Anurag Thakur.

Here is the depiction of latest cooking gas prices after decline of Rs 200:

Cities	New Prices	Old Prices
Delhi	Rs 903.00	Rs 1103.00
Mumbai	Rs 902.50	Rs 1102.50
Kolkata	Rs 929.00	Rs 1129.00
Chennai	Rs 918.50	Rs 1118.50
Bhopal	Rs 908.50	Rs 1108.50
Jaipur	Rs 906.50	Rs 1106.50
Patna	Rs 1001.00	Rs 1201.00
Raipur	Rs 974.00	Rs 1174.00