A New 'Janta Party' Emerges Online

Barely days after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) celebrated Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as a major victory, another meme-driven online movement has captured public attention — this time over fuel policy. Calling itself the E20 Janta Party, the campaign is urging the government to restore consumer choice by allowing petrol pumps to sell 100 percent petrol alongside the now-mandatory E20 ethanol-blended fuel. The group's X account, based in Malaysia, gained more than 31,000 followers within hours of launching.

What the E20 Janta Party Wants

In a detailed social media post, the E20 Janta Party described itself as a citizen-led consumer rights movement, stating it is not asking for subsidies, free fuel, or the withdrawal of ethanol-blended fuel altogether. "We are asking for consumer choice," the post said. Its core demands include the return of 100 percent petrol as an option at fuel stations, clear and transparent fuel labelling, public disclosure of studies on mileage, engine performance and maintenance costs, and independent research into the long-term impact of E20 fuel on vehicles.

Why E20 Has Become a Flashpoint

E20 fuel, a blend of 20 percent ethanol and 80 percent petrol, became the default petrol grade across India after being mandated as the baseline blend from April 2026, following a rollout that began in April 2025. The government has defended the policy, saying it reduces crude oil import dependence, boosts sugarcane farmers' incomes, lowers emissions and strengthens energy security, while maintaining that pure petrol remains available at a premium through select outlets selling 100-octane fuel such as XP100, Speed100 and Power100. Critics, however, argue E20 has reduced mileage by 8 to 15 percent and increased engine wear and maintenance costs, particularly in older vehicles not originally designed for the higher ethanol blend.

Demand for Gadkari's Resignation

Beyond its core consumer-choice demand, the E20 Janta Party has separately called for the resignation of Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, a prominent proponent of the ethanol-blending policy. The group has also alleged conflicts of interest involving Gadkari's family in relation to the fuel policy, allegations Gadkari has denied. Notably, the Bombay High Court has allowed Gadkari to pursue a civil defamation suit against Meta, major social media platforms and unidentified entities in connection with related allegations circulating online.

Borrowing CJP's Playbook

The movement has openly drawn on the CJP's satirical, meme-driven communication style, even reworking CJP's original mobilisation call — "What if all cockroaches come together?" — into a fuel-themed version aimed at bike and car owners. Political commentator Tehseen Poonawalla, who has previously criticised the mandatory E20 rollout, has amplified the campaign, while former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's repost of the group's posts on X has also drawn attention and mixed reactions online.

Mixed Public Reaction

Reactions to the campaign have been split. Some social media users have questioned the framing of the demand, with one arguing that offering pure petrol only at a premium simply normalises an inferior default fuel while charging extra for what should be standard. Others have pointed out the irony of the campaign's account being based in Malaysia, questioning its authenticity and origin. Supporters, meanwhile, say the group is channelling genuine and long-standing frustration among motorists over reduced mileage and rising maintenance costs since E20 became the default fuel.

An Upcoming Parliament March

The E20 Janta Party has announced plans for a march to Parliament in New Delhi on August 4, in which taxi, tourist and commercial vehicle owners from across the country are expected to participate. The protest is set to target both the mandatory E20 policy and the mandatory installation of GPS and panic-button systems in commercial vehicles, signalling that the campaign's scope may widen beyond fuel choice alone as it gathers momentum.