AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, announced that he had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the government's E20 petrol blending mandate, and called on citizens to sign an online petition addressed to the Prime Minister at stope20petrol.com.

In his post, Kejriwal wrote: 'कल मैंने प्रधानमंत्री जी को पत्र लिखा' ('Yesterday I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister'), urging followers to 'raise their voice together against E20' and to share their personal experiences with the Prime Minister by signing the petition linked in the post.

Context

E20 petrol is a government-mandated fuel blend comprising 20 per cent ethanol mixed with petrol. The central government has promoted the blend as a measure to reduce crude oil import dependence and support farm incomes, particularly for sugarcane farmers. Kejriwal's intervention marks one of the more direct political challenges to the blending programme at the national level.

AAP has previously positioned itself against several central energy policies that it argues adversely affect consumers in Delhi and other urban centres. The petition campaign extends that posture into a citizen-mobilisation effort.

Policy Backdrop

India's National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 established a roadmap for achieving 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by 2030, a target the central government subsequently advanced to 2025. Successive administrations have expanded ethanol blending since the early 2000s, framing it as an energy-security and agricultural-income measure.

However, the higher blends have drawn complaints from vehicle owners — particularly in cities — about reduced mileage and compatibility issues with older engines not designed for high-ethanol fuels. These consumer grievances form the backdrop against which Kejriwal's petition campaign is being launched.

Stakeholders and Impact

Vehicle owners across Indian cities are the primary constituency Kejriwal is appealing to, with urban consumers having reported concerns about fuel efficiency under higher ethanol blends. At the same time, sugarcane farmers — a significant rural constituency — have benefited from the ethanol blending programme, which provides an additional revenue stream for their produce.

The petition thus cuts across competing interests: urban consumers concerned about engine performance and running costs on one side, and the agricultural sector and energy-security advocates on the other. The Petroleum Ministry oversees blending mandates and has the authority to revise targets.

What's Next

The petition campaign at stope20petrol.com is live and invites citizens to both sign and share their experiences with E20 fuel. Whether the Prime Minister's Office formally responds to Kejriwal's letter, or whether the petition generates sufficient public momentum to prompt a policy review, will determine the campaign's political and legislative impact.

Observers will also watch whether other opposition parties join the effort, and whether the Petroleum Ministry issues any clarification on blending mandates or engine-compatibility safeguards in the weeks ahead.