Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay demanded a rollback of a central government decision to raise fuel prices on May 15, 2024.
The move marks the first time Vijay has publicly criticized the BJP-led central government since taking office. This confrontation highlights growing tensions between the state administration in Chennai and the federal government in New Delhi over economic policies and cost-of-living pressures.
The central government increased the price of petrol and diesel by Rs 3 per litre [1]. Vijay said the price hike was "unacceptable" [2].
He said the increase would hurt various sections of society [3]. The Chief Minister said the timing of the hike was unfair, noting it occurred after five state assembly elections had been held [4].
Vijay said the price adjustment was not aligned with global crude-oil price movements [3]. He called for an immediate reversal of the policy to protect citizens from rising costs [2].
The state leader's statement emphasizes the economic burden on the public, particularly those reliant on transport and agriculture, following the sudden price shift [3].
“"unacceptable"”
This development signals a shift in the political relationship between Tamil Nadu and the central government. By linking the price hike to the timing of five state elections and global oil trends, Vijay is positioning his administration as a defender of consumer interests against federal fiscal decisions.
