A new satirical online community, the 'E20 Janta Party', is rapidly gaining followers on social media, targeting the government's ethanol-blended fuel policy. Modelled on the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the digital campaign is calling for consumers to be given the option of purchasing unblended petrol and is demanding the resignation of Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The outfit has seen a surge in popularity across social media, with its Instagram page crossing more than 3.19 lakh followers at the time of writing, while its X account has also gained tens of thousands of followers within days. The movement insists it is not opposed to ethanol-blended fuel itself but wants consumers to have a choice.
In a statement shared online, it said: "E20 Janta Party is not a political party." "We are an independent citizens' movement focused on raising issues that affect the common people. Our only agenda is to ensure transparency, protect consumer rights, and encourage an open public discussion on the real impact of India's E20 (20% Ethanol Blended Petrol) policy," said the outfit. The group also sought to distance itself from political affiliations. "We do not support or endorse any political party. Our support is for the people, not for any political ideology," the statement read.
Urging followers to remain focused on its campaign, it added, "Please don't get distracted by rumours about who is behind this movement or where it is being operated from. Such speculation only takes attention away from the real issue." The group summed up its demands by stating, "Our demand is simple: accountability, transparency, and the right of consumers to be heard." In another post, it directly targeted the Union minister, stating: "Nitin Gadkari ji must resign!"
The campaign has emerged soon after the CJP concluded its month-long protest, which ended following the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister over alleged examination irregularities. Like the CJP, the E20 Janta Party is using satire and social media to mobilise public support. However, unlike its predecessor, the identity of its founders remains unknown.
The government's E20 policy promotes petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol to reduce crude oil imports, lower emissions and support the agricultural sector. While critics argue that the fuel reduces mileage and may affect older vehicles, the Centre has maintained that E20 is safe and that there is no scientific evidence showing it damages engines.
The movement has also announced a proposed march to Parliament on 4 August, with one of its affiliated social media accounts claiming that taxi operators, commercial vehicle owners and drivers from across the country will participate in a protest against E20 fuel and the mandatory installation of GPS and panic button systems.
Whether the campaign can generate public mobilisation on the scale of the CJP remains to be seen, but its rapid rise has already made it one of the latest viral political movements on Indian social media.
