The resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan may have brought the month-long Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar to an end, but it appears to have paved the way for another agitation. Although protests against the Centre's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme had already begun, they were overshadowed by the NEET-UG paper leak movement. With the CJP campaign now over, the ethanol issue is once again gathering momentum.
Signs of the shift were visible even during the closing days of the CJP protest. Jantar Mantar was no longer occupied solely by students demanding accountability over the NEET controversy and Pradhan's resignation. Various groups and activists also raised issues ranging from women's reservation in Parliament and unemployment to concerns over the Centre's ethanol blending policy—an issue that had previously remained largely confined to automobile enthusiasts and transport associations.
Following the CJP's declaration of victory after Pradhan resigned on July 25, campaigners opposing mandatory ethanol blending believe they now have both momentum and a proven model for protest.
Their primary demand is not the complete withdrawal of ethanol-blended petrol. Instead, they want consumers to have the option of choosing between E20 for compatible vehicles, E10 for older compliant vehicles and pure petrol (E0) for those who prefer it.
Several developments suggest the movement could gain further traction in the coming days. An "E20 Janta Party" has emerged on the lines of the Cockroach Janta Party. Team Bharat, led by activist Tehseen Poonawalla, has announced a march to Parliament Street on July 31. The Delhi Taxi and Tourist Transporters and Tour Operators Association has also planned a march to Parliament on August 4. Meanwhile, a LocalCircles survey claims that 60% of owners of vehicles manufactured before 2023 have reported reduced mileage after using E20 fuel.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has also announced that the party will organise a "National Townhall Against E20" on August 1.
Protesters are demanding the resignations of Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, who has become the public face of the ethanol policy, and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, whose ministry is implementing it.
On Monday, Gadkari approached the Bombay High Court over alleged defamatory posts and deepfake content linking him and his family to profits from the ethanol programme.
In an opinion piece, India Today columnist Kamlesh Singh argued that while Gen Z successfully used memes to mobilise public opinion, Millennials were now attempting something similar over ethanol-related concerns.
ETHANOL PROTESTS GAIN MOMENTUM
Unlike many issue-based campaigns that remain limited to social media, opposition to ethanol blending has already reached the streets. Following the CJP's success, campaigners believe the movement could now expand significantly.
The first major protest took place at Jantar Mantar on July 5 while the CJP agitation was still underway. Organised by Team Bharat, it demanded that the government make all documents related to the Ethanol Blended Petrol programme public and restore the availability of pure petrol.
Although attendance was modest, organisers believe the campaign is likely to grow.
Team Bharat has announced "The Gaadi March" near Parliament Street on July 31, while the Delhi Taxi and Tourist Transporters and Tour Operators Association has scheduled another march to Parliament on August 4, indicating that several groups are rallying around the same issue.
The transporters' association claims operators from across the country have reported declining mileage, rising maintenance expenses and engine performance issues after switching to E20 fuel.
Holding sugarcane stalks during a July 24 press conference, association president Sanjay Samrat argued that many vehicles manufactured before 2015 were never designed to run on petrol containing 20% ethanol.
"Transport operators and vehicle owners from different parts of the country have reported reduced fuel efficiency, higher maintenance costs and concerns regarding engine performance after the introduction of E20 fuel. Many vehicles manufactured before 2015 are not designed for 20% ethanol-blended petrol. This fuel is suitable only for newer models," he said.
The association also called for an independent scientific review of the ethanol policy involving transport operators, consumers, automobile manufacturers and technical experts.
LOCALCIRCLES SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS MILEAGE CONCERNS
Fuel efficiency and maintenance costs have emerged as key issues for campaigners preparing for larger demonstrations.
A LocalCircles survey released on July 26 found that dissatisfaction remains widespread among owners of petrol vehicles manufactured before 2023, more than a year after the nationwide rollout of E20 fuel in April 2025.
According to the survey, 67% of respondents said fuel efficiency had declined by more than 10% since early 2025, while around 45% reported higher wear and tear or increased repair requirements.
The survey noted that these figures were almost unchanged from June, suggesting that the concerns may be long-term rather than temporary.
Campaigners have cited the findings to argue that consumers were not adequately informed about the long-term implications of mandatory E20 availability.
Earlier, on July 17, another LocalCircles survey found that 45% of vehicle owners who reported reduced mileage after using E20 fuel said they were considering legal action to seek compensation.
The Centre has consistently maintained that E20 petrol is safe for use in all petrol vehicles, citing scientific studies, field testing and real-world data that, according to the government, show no evidence of widespread engine damage, abnormal wear or deterioration in vehicle performance.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on July 23, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi said the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme had been implemented through a phased and scientifically validated process involving NITI Aayog, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), oil marketing companies, automobile manufacturers and other technical institutions.
The government also said it had not received any widespread or substantiated complaints from vehicle manufacturers, automobile associations or consumer organisations regarding E20 fuel's impact on fuel efficiency, engine performance, maintenance costs or the overall driving experience.
TEHSEEN POONAWALLA TARGETS GADKARI
One of the most vocal critics of the policy has been activist Tehseen Poonawalla, who has questioned Nitin Gadkari's earlier statements promoting ethanol blending.
"Many people are asking why we are questioning Nitin Gadkari ji. He had claimed petrol would cost Rs 15 per litre, but that has not happened, and he must be held accountable. He cannot now say he is not the Petroleum Minister. Didn't he know his designation when making those claims?" Poonawalla told India Today Digital.
He said the protesters were seeking Gadkari's resignation.
Poonawalla also questioned the economics of the policy.
"Petrol costs India less than ethanol. Petrol costs around Rs 50 to Rs 55 per litre, while ethanol costs Rs 70 to Rs 72 per litre. Even if petrol costs Rs 60 after including taxes, why are we forcing ethanol blending while providing subsidies to distilleries? This is the biggest scam in India, and that's why I'm questioning Nitin Gadkari," he said.
He further alleged that coordinated online campaigns were being launched against him because of his opposition to the policy.
"These trends being run by Nitin Gadkari or his team against me must stop. I don't care about name-calling. We want accountability, and all documents related to the ethanol policy should be made public," he said.
Poonawalla clarified that the campaign was not seeking a complete rollback of ethanol blending.
"E10 should remain available for compatible cars and bikes. Pure petrol should also be available for under Rs 100 per litre. Those are our demands. We also need a solution for vehicles that have already been damaged," he added.
E20 JANTA PARTY EMERGES
Another sign that the ethanol issue could evolve into a major social media-driven campaign is the emergence of the E20 Janta Party, a satirical online group inspired by the CJP model.
Although its X account dates back to May 2024, it recently adopted its current name and has gained rapid traction following the CJP campaign.
By Monday, the account had crossed 50,000 followers on X, while its Instagram page had surpassed 200,000 followers.
Like the CJP, the group relies heavily on satire and meme culture. However, unlike the student movement against the Education Ministry, it says it is not demanding subsidies, free fuel or a complete rollback of ethanol blending.
Instead, it wants consumers to have the freedom to choose between E20, E10 and pure petrol. It has also demanded the resignations of Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Hardeep Singh Puri.
Motor enthusiast and Team Bharat member Ratan Dhillon alleged that the E20 Janta Party was "being operated from Malaysia" and was "using our pictures only to gain views."
WILL THE ETHANOL MOVEMENT GROW?
The Centre has consistently defended the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme, describing it as an important initiative to reduce India's dependence on imported crude oil, cut vehicular emissions and increase farmers' incomes by creating demand for sugarcane and other feedstocks.
E20 fuel consists of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol, with India completing its nationwide rollout in April 2025—five years ahead of schedule.
However, campaigners argue that the policy has imposed additional costs on owners of older vehicles that were not designed for higher ethanol blends. They cite lower mileage, increased maintenance costs, potential engine compatibility issues and concerns over the large quantities of water required for ethanol production.
Whether the movement develops into a nationwide campaign similar to the NEET protests remains uncertain.
Campaigners believe the issue affects a much broader constituency—millions of vehicle owners who purchase petrol every day. The planned marches on July 31 and August 4 are expected to test whether consumer dissatisfaction over fuel choice can translate into sustained public mobilisation.
If the CJP movement demonstrated that a social media-driven campaign could eventually force political concessions, those opposing mandatory ethanol blending hope to follow a similar path—organising online, gathering at protest sites, marching to Parliament and pressing for policy changes.
Their central demand remains straightforward: not an end to ethanol blending, but the freedom for consumers to decide what fuel they use in their vehicles.
