Shinde flies commercial, Sunetra Pawar adopts EV in fuel conservation drive
Synopsis
Maharashtra's Deputy CMs are putting their travel habits on public display. Eknath Shinde ditched his private jet for a commercial Air India seat; Sunetra Pawar swapped to an EV and slimmed her convoy. Both moves follow a Fadnavis-issued directive responding to PM Modi's fuel conservation push amid the US-Iran conflict — a rare moment of visible austerity from the state's ruling coalition.
Key Takeaways
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde flew Air India commercial on 19 May to Delhi instead of a private jet, to attend a Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 review meeting.
Deputy CM Sunetra Ajit Pawar adopted an electric vehicle for daily use and reduced her official convoy size.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier rode a motorcycle to Vidhan Bhavan and flew economy class to Bengaluru .
The moves follow a special meeting convened by Fadnavis to issue fuel-conservation guidelines to state ministers.
All three actions are in direct response to PM Modi 's appeal for fuel conservation amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict and rising global oil prices.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday, 19 May boarded a commercial Air India flight from Mumbai to Delhi instead of a private jet, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for fuel conservation amid the ongoing United States-Iran conflict. In a separate but related move, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar switched to an electric vehicle for daily use and trimmed her convoy — both actions part of a broader austerity push across Maharashtra's ruling coalition.
Shinde's Commercial Flight to Delhi
Shinde departed Mumbai on the 4 pm Air India service, travelling alongside ordinary passengers to attend a two-day special review meeting for the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, organised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. He is scheduled to participate actively in the meeting on Wednesday.
The Deputy Chief Minister, who has routinely used private aircraft for official travel, was received warmly by co-passengers and citizens at the airport. Many photographed him, while others handed over memoranda detailing personal grievances. Shinde accepted the greetings, engaged with the crowd, and then boarded his flight, according to a release from his office.
Sunetra Pawar Switches to EV, Cuts Convoy
Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar adopted an electric vehicle for her daily commute and reduced the number of vehicles in her official convoy. Her office said the move was a direct response to PM Modi's appeal for environmental protection and fuel conservation in the context of the global energy crisis triggered by rising oil prices. Through these actions, Pawar conveyed that fuel conservation is 'the collective responsibility of every citizen,' her office stated.
The Broader Austerity Signal from Maharashtra
The twin gestures follow a directive from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who convened a special meeting to issue specific fuel-conservation guidelines for state ministers after Modi's appeal. Fadnavis himself led by example last week, riding a motorcycle from his official residence Varsha to Vidhan Bhavan and subsequently flying economy class on a commercial flight to Bengaluru.
Notably, Shinde's office said he had already taken earlier steps in this direction — transitioning to an electric vehicle, reducing convoy vehicles, and cutting helicopter trips — making the commercial flight the latest in a series of visible austerity measures.
Context: Modi's Fuel Conservation Appeal
With global oil prices climbing amid the US-Iran conflict, PM Modi urged the nation to conserve fuel and asked political leaders to set a public example. The Maharashtra government's response has been among the most visible at the state level, with senior ministers across party lines within the ruling alliance — Shinde (Shiv Sena), Pawar (Nationalist Congress Party), and Fadnavis (Bharatiya Janata Party) — each making demonstrable changes to official travel practices.
How long these practices are maintained beyond the current geopolitical spotlight will be the real measure of their commitment to the stated goals.
Point of View
But the durability question is real. Maharashtra's ruling coalition has moved with unusual speed and visibility — three senior ministers, three separate austerity acts, all within days. What's less clear is whether these are one-off performances for a news cycle or the start of a structural change in how state officials use public resources. India's political class has a long history of high-decibel austerity moments that quietly fade once the geopolitical trigger recedes. The Fadnavis directive is a useful institutional step; what it lacks is any enforcement mechanism or public reporting standard that would make backsliding visible.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Eknath Shinde take a commercial flight to Delhi on 19 May?
Shinde flew commercial Air India to Delhi on 19 May in response to PM Modi's appeal for fuel conservation amid the US-Iran conflict and rising global oil prices. He was attending a two-day Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 review meeting organised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
What steps has Sunetra Pawar taken for fuel conservation?
Deputy CM Sunetra Ajit Pawar adopted an electric vehicle for her daily commute and reduced the number of vehicles in her official convoy. Her office said the move was a direct response to PM Modi's call for environmental protection and fuel conservation.
What did CM Devendra Fadnavis do as part of this austerity drive?
Fadnavis rode a motorcycle from his official residence Varsha to Vidhan Bhavan and flew economy class on a commercial flight to Bengaluru. He also convened a special meeting to issue specific fuel-conservation guidelines for Maharashtra's state ministers.
What triggered the fuel conservation push by Maharashtra ministers?
PM Modi urged the nation to conserve fuel and asked political leaders to lead by example, citing rising global oil prices amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict. The Maharashtra government responded with a Fadnavis-convened ministerial meeting and a series of visible travel changes.
Has Shinde taken other eco-friendly steps before this flight?
Yes, according to his office, Shinde had previously transitioned to an electric vehicle, reduced convoy vehicles, and cut down on helicopter trips. The commercial flight on 19 May is the latest in a series of stated austerity measures.
