AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, called on all Aam Aadmi Party workers and leaders to visit petrol pumps and service stations across the country, urging them to speak with consumers affected by the government's E20 ethanol-blended fuel programme and flood social media with public grievances to pressure the central government.

Context

In the post, Kejriwal appealed directly to AAP's ground-level cadre, saying: 'सब लोग अपने घरों से निकलकर पेट्रोल पंप और सर्विस स्टेशन पर जाएँ' ('Everyone should step out of their homes and go to petrol pumps and service stations'). He asked workers to make videos, talk to ordinary people, and share the content on social media. He added that citizens unhappy with E20 should also record their own videos and post them online, arguing that the government 'is not the kind to listen' through conventional channels and that public pressure through social media is the only effective route.

The appeal carries a video alongside the post, suggesting the party intends to use visual content as a primary tool for the campaign. Kejriwal framed the exercise as giving ordinary people a platform: 'हमें पूरे सोशल मीडिया को आम लोगों की आवाज़ से भरकर इन पर दबाव बनाना होगा' ('We will have to fill all of social media with the voice of common people and build pressure on them').

Policy Backdrop

The E20 programme is part of India's National Policy on Biofuels, first notified in 2018, which set targets for blending ethanol with petrol to reduce crude-oil import dependence and support sugarcane farmers. In 2021, the Government of India advanced the E20 target from 2030 to 2025 and began a phased rollout of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol through oil marketing companies.

The programme has drawn criticism from consumer groups and vehicle owners who cite possible mileage loss, engine compatibility concerns — particularly for older two-wheelers and cars — and insufficient public consultation before the rollout. Opposition parties have periodically raised these concerns in parliamentary debates and on social media.

Stakeholders and Impact

The campaign is aimed squarely at petrol consumers and vehicle owners, who form a vast constituency across urban and semi-urban India. For daily commuters, even a marginal drop in fuel efficiency translates into a measurable increase in monthly expenditure, making the issue politically potent.

AAP, which governs Punjab and has an active organisational presence in Delhi and several other states, has a cadre network capable of mobilising quickly at the retail fuel level. By directing workers to petrol pumps — a space where consumer frustration is immediate and visible — the party is attempting to convert a technical policy debate into a street-level political narrative.

What's Next

The success of the campaign will depend on the scale of video content generated and its organic reach on platforms such as X, Instagram, and YouTube. If the hashtag gains traction, it could compel the central government or oil marketing companies to issue a formal clarification on E20 compatibility and consumer impact.

Separately, the nationwide availability of E20 at all retail outlets — a key plank of the government's 2025 blending target — and any regulatory or parliamentary review of blending standards will determine whether the opposition's social-media pressure translates into a policy re-examination.