Kejriwal vows to ban E20 petrol in Goa within 5 days if AAP wins 2027 polls

Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday promised to ban E20 petrol in Goa within five days if his party forms the government after the 2027 Assembly election.The former Delhi Chief Minister made the pledge at an E20 town hall during his two-day visit to the BJP-ruled state.“If our government is formed in Goa after March 10, 2027, the sale of ethanol-blended petrol will be banned in the state within five days. Otherwise, I will leave politics,” Kejriwal said.The promise turns opposition to E20 petrol into an early election issue in Goa, where AAP has two members in the 40-seat Assembly. The state is expected to vote in March 2027. KEJRIWAL ALLEGES ENGINE DAMAGE, LOWER MILEAGEA day earlier, Kejriwal had alleged that E20 petrol was damaging vehicle engines and fuel systems while reducing mileage.He said AAP had received thousands of WhatsApp messages and social media comments after he asked vehicle owners to share their experiences with the fuel. “People’s engines are getting damaged, fuel systems are being affected, and people are seeing a substantial drop in mileage,” he alleged.E20 contains 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol. It became the only petrol blend available at fuel stations nationwide in April 2026 after a phased rollout.Some owners of older vehicles have raised concerns that their vehicles were not designed for higher ethanol blends. They have sought the continued availability of lower blends such as E10.KEJRIWAL LINKS E20 TO SUGAR PRICE SURGEKejriwal has also linked the ethanol-blending programme to the sharp rise in sugar prices.He alleged that sugarcane equivalent to nearly 25 lakh tonnes of sugar had been diverted for ethanol production, reducing domestic availability.According to Kejriwal, sugar prices rose from around Rs 45 per kg at the end of July to more than Rs 70 in some markets within a month.He argued that the government should have anticipated a shortage before diverting sugarcane towards ethanol.The Centre has rejected the claim, attributing the price rise to lower-than-expected production, festive demand, crop damage, tightening global supplies, speculation and hoarding.Kejriwal also questioned the Centre’s claim that ethanol blending saves foreign exchange by reducing crude oil imports. He argued that any savings were being offset by imports of sugar and other commodities.CENTRE DEFENDS E20 ROLLOUTThe Centre introduced E20 to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, support domestic ethanol production and lower vehicular emissions.The government and industry representatives maintain that the fuel underwent extensive testing and is safe for new and older vehicles.The government has also argued that ethanol blending supports sugar mills and farmers by creating an alternative market for sugarcane.AAP has described the nationwide rollout as “forced implementation” and demanded a review of the policy.AAP TAKES CAMPAIGN NATIONWIDEThe Goa town hall is part of AAP’s nationwide campaign against E20 petrol.The party held its first national town hall on the issue at the Constitution Club of India in Delhi on August 1.Kejriwal later led a march towards the Prime Minister’s residence with around 2.38 lakh petitions against E20 fuel. Police stopped the delegation near Firoz Shah Road, after which AAP leaders staged a protest.The party subsequently announced town halls in several states, including West Bengal, Gujarat, Haryana, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Odisha.- EndsPublished By: Aprameya RaoPublished On: Aug 25, 2026 17:07 IST