The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday, 15 May launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led governments at the Centre and in Odisha, accusing them of triggering a fuel crisis that has forced citizens to queue for hours at petrol pumps across the state. The criticism comes on the same day a ₹3 per litre hike in petrol and diesel prices was announced, compounding public frustration.

BJD's Core Allegations

Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, BJD leaders alleged that the BJP's so-called 'double-engine government' had become a 'queue government', drawing direct comparisons to the scenes outside banks during demonetisation. The party held the state's Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department primarily responsible for what it described as an undeclared fuel disaster rooted in 'directionless and short-sighted governance.'

BJD Vice-President Sanjay Kumar Das Burma alleged a glaring contradiction within the state administration: while the department's Secretary publicly maintained that fuel stocks were available in abundance, the Supplies Minister acknowledged stocks would last only 13 days. Das Burma argued this disconnect exposed a fundamental lack of coordination at the top.

What the Government Said

According to Das Burma, the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister claimed there was no fuel problem and that sufficient stocks were available — a position the BJD described as 'false propaganda' that contradicted ground realities visible across the state. The government has not issued a detailed public rebuttal to the specific contradictions flagged by the opposition.

The ₹3 Per Litre Hike: Timing and Criticism

Das Burma described the ₹3 per litre price increase, announced on the same day as the queues drew public attention, as an 'added insult to injury.' BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty alleged that the BJP, when in opposition, had demanded a reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel and the inclusion of petrol and diesel under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework — promises it has not fulfilled after coming to power, he argued. Mohanty further alleged that despite lower global crude oil prices in recent periods, fuel rates were not passed on to consumers, with the latest hike aimed at protecting oil company profits.

Congress Joins the Attack

The opposition Indian National Congress (INC) also targeted both the state and Union governments over the fuel crisis and the price hike, broadening the political pressure on the BJP administration in Odisha. This comes amid the BJP government approaching its second anniversary in the state — a milestone the BJD alleged the government is prioritising through 'repeated high-level meetings' over resolving the fuel supply issue.

Broader Context

Odisha's fuel distribution challenge, if confirmed, would reflect a wider pattern of supply-chain stress seen in several Indian states during periods of high demand or logistical disruption. The political optics are particularly sensitive given the BJP's 'double-engine government' pitch — the argument that aligned Centre-state leadership delivers faster development — which critics now say has produced only longer queues. How quickly the state administration resolves the supply crunch and addresses the pricing controversy will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.