Fear of post-election price hike sparks fuel rush, as government denies shortage and assures steady supply.
April 27, 2026: Rumours of a sharp fuel price hike after the April 29 elections triggered panic buying across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, leading to long queues at petrol pumps. Motorists rushed to stock up on petrol and diesel, with several fuel stations displaying “No Stock” signs. Authorities attributed the situation to panic buying, even as the government denied any shortage or plans to increase prices.
The surge was fuelled by social media speculation and a report by Kotak Institutional Equities suggesting a possible ₹25–28 per litre hike. However, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas dismissed such claims as misleading and aimed at creating panic. Visuals from cities like Rajahmundry and Vijayawada showed people carrying fuel in containers amid heavy rush at pumps.
Responding to the situation, N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed supply concerns and directed officials to restore normalcy. Meanwhile, Bharat Petroleum assured that fuel supply remained steady, blaming the temporary strain on an unusual spike in demand rather than any real shortage.