Akhilesh Yadav attacks Centre over E20 petrol, cites CEA’s reported backing for E10

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav criticized the central government over the recent introduction of E20 petrol, drawing attention to Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran's reported support for E10 petrol. Yadav shared a picture on X (formerly Twitter) questioning the government's stance on the issue, emphasizing the adverse impact of E20 on vehicles.

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister argued that the sale of E10 petrol should be resumed for old two-wheelers, highlighting the concern over the fuel's effects on engine performance and potential damage to fuel lines. Yadav questioned whether the government or the adviser had the correct position on the matter, noting conflicting perspectives on E20.

He highlighted the government's claim that there was no issue with E20 while advisers warned about its impact on vehicles. Yadav's criticism was fueled by the experiences of motorists who reported problems after using E20, leading them to seek assistance, while the government maintained that no problems were associated with the fuel.

The BJP-led government, Yadav pointed out, conducts surveys on various issues but is not directly seeking the views of people facing problems related to E20. Describing E20 as a "double-edged sword," Yadav emphasized the dual burden it imposes on people through higher petrol prices and increased vehicle maintenance costs. Introduced as part of efforts to reduce vehicular emissions and reliance on crude oil imports, E20 became the sole petrol variant at fuel pumps across India from April 2026, sparking concerns among vehicle owners, particularly those with older vehicles not designed for high ethanol blends.