LPG rate cut, award for Rajinikanth: Signs of BJP's acceptance of issues in ongoing elections

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 1 

LPG rate cut, ‘U-turn’ on small savings on the interest rate, and prestigious award for superstar Rajinikanth in the last 24 hours is a sign of BJP's acceptance of the issues and concerns regarding the ongoing elections in the five states and a UT—especially West Bengal.  

Observers certainly believe so, especially the turnaround on the interest rate on small saving by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in less than 12 hours. 

The overnight reversal added to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reversals on key policy decisions, including land acquisition during his first tenure. 

This apart the Centre on Thursday also announced the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for southern superstar Rajinikanth. 

The actor-turned-politician may not be contesting in the elections, but he certainly holds a significant fan-following in poll-bound Tamil Nadu and Puducherry which would be voting on April 6. 

The BJP—which tried hard to woo the actor in the run-up—is contesting the elections with the ruling AIADMK.   

Then as a major relief to customers, oil marketing companies too decided to reduce the price of cooking gas by Rs 10 per cylinder from April 1. 

While the reduction in prices came on the back of softening in crude oil and petroleum prices during the second fortnight of March on account of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases across Europe and Asia and growing uncertainty over vaccines, observers also identified a “government’ hand in mind the elections”. 

Opposition parties, who have been slamming the Centre on rising prices of LPG cylinders, have made it a key poll’ issue in the ongoing elections, demanding a roll-back.