BackGovt to cut fuel prices after state polls end on 24 Dec
Govt to cut fuel prices after state polls end on 24 Dec
PremiumRooting for cuts: Murli Deora, minister for petroleum and natural gas. Harikrishna Katragadda / Mint
New Delhi: Petroleum minister Murli Deora on Tuesday said the government plans to cut diesel and petrol prices after the assembly elections in six states conclude on 24 December.
“The international prices have fallen and there is an expectation that prices need to be reduced. I am also of the opinion that they should be reduced and that will happen after 24 December. We should reduce prices, but we cannot do it before 24 December because of the code of conduct," he said.
Deora’s statement provoked the main opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which saw it as an attempt to court voters in state elections.
“This is a violation of the model code of conduct aimed at wooing the voters ahead of the assembly elections in many states... The announcement will certainly benefit the ruling coalition at the Centre and we will file a complaint with the Election Commission," V.K. Malhotra, BJP leader and chief ministerial candidate for Delhi, said.
Global crude prices were around $52.17 (Rs2,609) a barrel on Tuesday after rising to more than $145 in July.
OMCs are earning Rs9.86 on the sale of per litre of petrol and 70 paise on per litre of diesel. However, due to the subsidy component involved in the sale of kerosene and on a 14.2kg domestic LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinder, they are losing Rs22.40 on each litre of kerosene sold and Rs343.49 on each cylinder. The companies are losing Rs110 crore per day.
R.S. Pandey, petroleum secretary, said his ministry would approach the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs with a proposal that would include, among others, the issues of a revision in petrol and diesel prices, losses suffered by OMCs and the estimated under-recoveries by the end of this fiscal year.
(PTI contributed to this story.)
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