Akhilesh Yadav asks 'Who is right?' on E20 petrol, cites CEA's reported E10 backing

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday (August 19, 2026) questioned the Union government's decision to mandate E20 petrol across the country, citing a reported remark by Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran in favour of the lower ethanol blend E10. The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's comments have reignited the debate over the nationwide rollout of E20 fuel.

In a post on X, Mr. Yadav shared a picture quoting Mr. Nageswaran as saying that E10 petrol should be made available again for older two-wheelers, arguing that E20 could damage vehicles. "Who is right: the government or the adviser?" Mr. Yadav asked, pointing to what he described as conflicting positions between the government's policy and the advice of its own economic advisor.

The SP chief, who leads the third-largest party in the Lok Sabha, said motorists whose vehicles had allegedly developed problems after using E20 were "being forced to seek assistance". He accused the government of not directly seeking the views of those affected, despite conducting surveys on various issues. Calling E20 a "double-edged sword", he said it imposed a "double burden" on people through higher fuel prices and increased vehicle maintenance costs.

E20 is a blend of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol, introduced by the Centre as part of efforts to reduce vehicular emissions and cut dependence on crude oil imports. After a phased rollout, E20 became the only petrol variant available at fuel stations across the country from April 2026.

The move has raised concerns among some vehicle owners, who have reported reduced engine performance and fears of damage to fuel lines and other components that may not be compatible with high ethanol blends. Owners of older vehicles, many of which were not designed for ethanol-heavy fuel, have demanded the continued availability of lower blends such as E10.

Government officials have maintained that E20 is safe for vehicles and that the blending programme is essential for energy security and environmental goals. The Petroleum Ministry has previously said that automakers were consulted and that vehicles manufactured after a certain date are E20-compliant.

The debate over E20 vs E10 reflects the broader challenge of balancing environmental commitments with the concerns of consumers and the readiness of the existing vehicle fleet. As the Centre pushes ahead with its ethanol blending roadmap, the demand for a graded approach, including the availability of E10 for older vehicles, continues to gain traction.