Sharad Pawar, chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), said the Modi government will pay a political price for rising LPG prices.
The warning highlights the growing tension between the opposition and the central government over inflation and the cost of living for the Indian public.
Speaking in Maharashtra, Pawar said that frequent hikes in essential commodities are hurting the common man across the country [1]. He specifically cited the recent increase in LPG prices, which rose by ₹29 per cylinder [2]. This follows a previous price hike of ₹60 per cylinder that occurred on March 7, 2024 [3].
"The government will pay a political price for burdening the common man with rising LPG prices," Pawar said [4]. He argued that these costs add to the overall burden of inflation, making basic necessities less affordable for the average citizen.
Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, responded to the criticism by attributing the price changes to external pressures. He said the government cannot shield citizens from global shocks and that the price rise is a consequence of the West Asia conflict [5].
The disagreement underscores a divide in how the two sides view economic management. While the NCP views the price increases as a failure of government policy, the administration maintains that global energy market volatility is the primary driver of the cost increases.
“The government will pay a political price for burdening the common man with rising LPG prices.”
This clash reflects a broader political strategy where opposition leaders use the volatility of essential commodity prices to mobilize voters. By framing global energy shocks as a domestic political failure, the NCP aims to capitalize on public dissatisfaction with inflation, while the government attempts to deflect accountability by citing geopolitical instability in West Asia.
