Nana Patole, a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from the Congress party, has raised concerns regarding the alleged shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the country. During a press interaction, he criticized the BJP-led government, claiming it is misleading the public about the status of gas supplies. Patole asserted that the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, has acknowledged a lack of commercial gas cylinders, indicating a significant issue in supply.

Chief Minister’s Admission Fuels Concerns

Patole highlighted that CM Fadnavis had confirmed the unavailability of commercial gas cylinders while asserting that domestic gas supplies remain accessible. According to Patole, such statements clearly indicate a shortage of commercial gas. He stated, “The government itself is now running on fumes… By claiming that there is no shortage, the Chief Minister is actively misleading the public. Why have industries and hotels across the state shut down?” He emphasized his intention to address these issues in the upcoming Legislative Assembly sessions, urging the government to disclose the truth rather than repeat evasive tactics as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government’s Statement on LPG Supply

In response to concerns regarding LPG supply levels, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas recently stated that there are currently no widespread gas supply shortages reported at distribution points across India. As of the latest update, the government noted a decrease in LPG bookings, with approximately 7.7 million bookings reported yesterday compared to nearly 8.9 million on March 13, 2026. The Ministry added that commercial LPG cylinders are being prioritized for distribution and remain available for consumers across 30 states and Union Territories.

By-elections Announced for Rahuri and Baramati

Following the announcement of by-elections for the Rahuri and Baramati Assembly constituencies, Patole remarked that no decisions have been finalized regarding candidates. The need for these elections arose due to the passing of two sitting MLAs: Shivaji Bhanudas Kardile from Rahuri and Ajit Anantrao Pawar from Baramati. Polling is scheduled for April 23. Furthermore, the Election Commission of India has laid out the schedule for Assembly elections across four states—West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Assam—and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Election Schedule and Criticism of Electoral Processes

The forthcoming elections will see polling in West Bengal conducted in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while Kerala and Assam will hold voting in a single phase on April 9. Tamil Nadu will also join the voting on April 23, and Puducherry will participate on the same day as Kerala. The counting of votes for all elections will take place on May 4. In another related development, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar expressed criticism over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the states facing elections, accusing the ruling party of misusing governmental powers to influence electoral outcomes. He claimed that the process was facilitated to undermine opposition votes and maintained that the BJP would struggle to win elections in the mentioned regions regardless of their efforts.

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