Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 27: Inspired by the recent success of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a new citizen-led digital movement dubbed the 'E20 Janta Party' has launched an online campaign against the mandatory use of ethanol-blended fuel. The group is demanding that consumers be given the choice to purchase 100 per cent original petrol, alongside seeking the resignation of road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari.
The movement is rapidly gathering steam on social media platforms. On Instagram, the E20 Janta Party's follower count quickly surged past 2,70,000, with numbers increasing by the second. Similarly, its account on X (formerly Twitter) gained over 25,000 followers within just a few hours on Sunday, July 26.
Positioning itself as a people-powered consumer rights movement, the party is demanding clear labelling of fuel blends and transparency regarding the costs, benefits, and long-term impact of E20 fuel on vehicle engines, emissions, and mileage. The group clarified that it is not seeking subsidies, complimentary fuel, or an end to E20 petrol. Instead, it simply wants fuel retailers to make 100 per cent petrol available so vehicle owners have the freedom to choose the fuel best suited for their engines.
The digital campaign has also garnered physical support from transport bodies. Backing the movement, the Delhi Taxi and Tourist Transporters and Tour Operators Association has announced a march to the Parliament against E20 petrol on August 4.
Meanwhile, the union government has asserted that there is no proposal to return to unblended fuel. The government maintains that E20 is a safe, clean, and technologically advanced fuel, stating that no laboratory tests or real-world usage have proven it causes engine damage or wear and tear. However, it admitted that E10-compliant vehicles may experience a marginal drop in mileage when using the E20 blend.
The emergence of the E20 Janta Party comes on the heels of the CJP's success, a satirical youth-led movement that championed the NEET paper leak cause and recently withdrew its month-long protest following the resignation of the education minister. Emulating its predecessor, the E20 campaign recently posted a modified call to action asking, "What if all bike/car owners come together?