Commercial LPG Price Surge Draws Sharp Rebuke from Congress Leader

Hyderabad — Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee Vice-President Nawab Mujahid Alam Khan has launched a scathing attack on the Centre's commercial LPG pricing policy, terming the recent increases as unjust and unacceptable.

The Congress leader pointed to the dramatic escalation in cylinder rates over recent months. Commercial LPG was priced at ₹1,992 a year ago, but successive increases have driven prices substantially higher. The Centre implemented a ₹115 increase on March 7, followed by another ₹215 rise on April 1. Most significantly, a steep ₹993 hike came into effect on May 1, 2026, pushing the retail price to ₹3,315.

Alam Khan raised questions about the timing of these price adjustments, suggesting they reflect deliberate political strategy rather than market conditions. He pointed out that the Centre raised prices immediately following elections held across five states. According to him, the National Democratic Alliance government prioritised electoral considerations over public interest, maintaining artificially stable prices during the election period before sharply raising them once polling concluded.

The ramifications of the price increase will be particularly acute for the hospitality and small business sectors, Alam Khan cautioned. Hotels, restaurants, and small enterprises already operate with limited profit margins, and the surge in LPG costs will force them to transfer expenses to consumers. This transmission of costs, he argued, would intensify inflationary pressures and compound the financial hardship faced by ordinary citizens.

By contrast, Alam Khan highlighted the Telangana government's approach to domestic LPG. The state continues to supply domestic cylinders at ₹500 each through its subsidy programmes, demonstrating an alternative model that prioritises affordability.

The Congress leader called for an immediate reversal of the price hike and urged the Union government to reconsider its stance on essential commodities. He argued that such items should not be treated as revenue-generating instruments but rather managed with policies that prioritise the welfare of the people.