Congress slams ₹900-plus LPG cylinder price hike as 'electoral bill' after assembly polls

New Delhi: Congress slammed the government for the hefty ₹900-plus hike per commercial liquefied petroleum gas cylinder, terming it the "electoral bill" as it came a day after the completion of the latest round of assembly polls. Party leader Rahul Gandhi warned that petrol and diesel prices could be increased next.

"I had said it, the heat of inflation would come after the elections. Today, a commercial gas cylinder is ₹993 more expensive. The biggest increase in a single day. This is the election bill. From February till now: ₹1,380 increase - a whopping 81% jump in just 3 months. Tea stalls, dhaba, hotel, bakery, sweet shop, the burden on everyone's kitchen has increased... First strike on gas, next strike on petrol-diesel," Gandhi said in a social media post.

AICC general secretary (org) KC Venugopal said, "A whopping increase of nearly ₹1,000 on commercial cylinders will affect crores of Indians who rely on food from small eateries for sustenance. Similarly, crores of small food businesses will have to bear the burden of this hike... BJP's regard for the common Indian's suffering is limited to election gimmicks after which they're left to their own devices. In the 3 months since the Iran war began, the government should have prepared a solid plan to shield ordinary Indians from the price shocks, instead of passing on the financial burden."

The price rise impacts small businesses and common citizens. The government is urged to prepare plans to protect people from price shocks.