Is Nitin Gadkari Next? New 'E20 Janta Party' Trends Online Over Fuel Policy

A new online movement calling itself the E-20 Janta Party is rapidly gaining attention in India, turning the national conversation away from fuel prices and towards consumer choice. The campaign insists it is not opposed to ethanol blending and is not demanding that the government scrap its E20 policy. Instead, it says motorists should have the freedom to choose between regular petrol and E20 petrol fuel blended with 20% ethanol at every petrol pump.

The movement argues that consumers deserve informed choice through clear fuel labelling at pumps and more independent scientific studies on how different fuel blends affect engines, particularly older vehicles. According to the campaign, it has already attracted more than 442,000 followers online.

The E-20 Janta Party argues that fuel policy should not eliminate consumer choice. The group says the issue is about transparency, evidence-based policymaking and public consent, not opposition to renewable fuels. Some public figures have also questioned the policy, citing concerns over fuel efficiency and compatibility in older vehicles. While automobile manufacturers broadly support the transition, they have acknowledged that some older vehicles may experience a slight drop in mileage. The government, however, maintains there is no widespread evidence that E20 damages engines and says the long-term economic and environmental benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

The controversy has spilled into the courts. The Union Road Transport Ministry has approached the Bombay High Court, seeking directions for platforms including Meta and Google to remove what it calls defamatory content linked to the campaign. According to the ministry, AI-generated deepfake videos and manipulated social media posts falsely alleged that officials were responsible for irregularities in the ethanol programme and had personally profited from it. The government has rejected those claims as fabricated.

The movement has also inspired a parallel social media campaign using the same name, which has called for a protest outside Parliament on August 4. Its rapid rise mirrors the Cockroach Janata Party.