Chief Minister MK Stalin of Tamil Nadu has called on citizens to remain calm as the state grapples with an ongoing shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) attributed to the conflict in West Asia. In a statement posted on X, he informed the public that he has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and relevant Union Ministers regarding the situation. Stalin also mentioned that a consultation meeting was convened under the leadership of Minister R Sakkarapani to explore solutions to the gas shortage.

He elaborated that due to the ongoing war in West Asia, the state is experiencing various crises, including a shortage of cooking gas cylinders and delays in petroleum product supplies, namely petrol and diesel. Referring to the high-level consultation held two days prior, Stalin reassured citizens that the Union Government has indicated sufficient fuel stocks are available, urging the public to avoid panic.

Political Reactions and Public Assurance

During his address, Stalin noted that opposition parties have been vocal in Parliament, demanding increased attention from the Centre regarding the ongoing crisis. He urged citizens to have faith in the government’s strategies and to collectively confront the challenges arising from the regional conflict. He stressed the importance of public support for the initiatives being undertaken by state and national authorities.

“Let us stand together during this difficult time and support the efforts being made by the Union Government to mitigate the crisis,” Stalin stated. “The opposition parties are also staging protests to urge the Union Government to take this issue more seriously. However, I ask the public not to be anxious,” he continued.

Global Context of the Conflict

As of March 12, 2026, the conflict that started on February 28 with Operation “Epic Fury” has escalated into a significant regional crisis involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. This development poses potential global economic repercussions. Reports indicate that a recent strike carried out by US-Israeli forces targeted an industrial area near Tehran, worsening the already tense situation.

In another development related to this crisis, the Liberia-flagged tanker Shenlong Suezmax has reached Mumbai Port, marking the first vessel bound for India to successfully transit through the Strait of Hormuz since the onset of hostilities between Iran and the US. The tanker loaded crude oil from Ras Tanura port in Saudi Arabia on March 1 and began its journey shortly thereafter.

Maritime tracking data revealed that the vessel entered the Strait of Hormuz on March 8 but temporarily disappeared from tracking systems, which is a precautionary measure often taken by ships navigating high-risk areas. The tanker reappeared on tracking systems on March 9. After successfully docking at Mumbai Port at 1 PM on Wednesday, it was berthed at Jawahar Dweep at 6:06 PM, carrying a significant load of 135,335 metric tonnes of crude oil destined for refineries in Mahul, eastern Mumbai. The discharge of the crude is expected to take around 36 hours.

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