Chennai: With the Tamil Nadu elections solely weeks away, the LPG cylinder scarcity has grow to be an election weapon as 200-plus accommodations remained shut Thursday in Chennai. Because the Iran battle has hit LPG shipments by means of the Strait of Hormuz, oil refineries have been directed to feed family cylinders first, leaving business customers gasping.

What started as a supply-chain disaster has reworked to a political device, because the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is criticising the Centre. On its half, the Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP) is looking it “a story” of the ruling get together, making certain that the West Asia battle doesn’t snowball into an electoral legal responsibility for the get together in Tamil Nadu.

“The Union authorities ought to take diplomatic steps to make sure a secure crude oil provide from West Asian nations,” DMK chief T.Okay.S. Elangovan informed ANI.

Chief Minister M Okay Stalin stated Thursday that he chaired a high-level evaluate assembly with Meals and Civil Provides Minister R. Sakkarapani not too long ago, and added that he wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers, urging “instant motion” to revive business LPG, petrol and diesel provides.

மேற்காசியப் போர்ச்சூழல் காரணமாக, தற்போது ஏற்பட்டிருக்கும் நெருக்கடிகளை எதிர்கொள்ள, இரண்டு நாட்களுக்கு முன்பு உயர்மட்ட ஆலோசனை மேற்கொண்டதோடு, சமையல் எரிவாயு சிலிண்டர் தட்டுப்பாடு – பெட்ரோல் – டீசல் உள்ளிட்ட எரிபொருள் விநியோகம் குறித்து மாண்புமிகு பிரதமர் அவர்களுக்கும், தொடர்புடைய… https://t.co/N9f4XCVnXH

— M.Okay.Stalin – தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) March 12, 2026

The letter, handed over by Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, emphasised that the scarcity should not have an effect on the general public, business institutions. It additionally sought different preparations for eating places.

Stalin additionally acknowledged that DMK MPs staged a protest inside Parliament premises, urging the Union authorities for a swift motion.

“Because the Union Authorities has acknowledged that adequate gas shares can be found, I request the general public to not panic or really feel anxious. At this second, allow us to stand collectively and assist the efforts being taken to handle the challenges arising from the West Asia battle scenario,” he acknowledged on X.

Attacking the DMK for dynasty politics and “scientific corruption”, Modi in Trichy on Wednesday had clarified on the LPG scarcity, saying that there was no have to panic. “We showcased India is a mature nation throughout the pandemic and we’ll deal with this maturely,” he stated.

In the meantime, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran went additional. “I’m an LPG vendor myself and may affirm there isn’t any scarcity. The claims are being made by opposition events to create panic.”

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Vox populi

In Chennai, small eateries that cater to varsity college students, hospital guests and daily-wage labourers are the worst hit.

One such store subsequent to a metropolis faculty declared a “vacation” on Thursday. “The fuel has not been coming for 2 days. We want two cylinders for performing from 7 am until 9 pm every day. A whole lot of college students are coming right here as they depend upon our store for each day inexpensive breakfast however we needed to flip them away,” Munna, a restaurant proprietor in Aminjikarai informed ThePrint.

Munna employs 10 folks, together with a grasp and two assistants. There, he stated, can also be no different cooking system for the reason that store is in an open space on a foremost highway.

Others like Murugan who owns an eatery in Mount Street introduced down their menus in order that they’ll proceed their small companies. “We used to serve porotta, idli and dosa additionally. We needed to reduce that as a result of it takes extra time for cooking. We are actually serving solely fried rice and biryani,” he stated.

Equally, the large eating places comparable to Balaji that used to get six-eight business fuel cylinders in a day upon a day’s intimation are actually relying solely on three-four cylinders.

“To make sure that the restaurant stays functioning, we’ve reduce down on the menu. A couple of meals and tiffin objects comparable to rice, and idli may be cooked utilizing electrical cookers however we’ve restricted the timings for the provision for meals objects like roti, dosa and naan as a result of this stuff need to be cooked utilizing fuel cylinders,” Sathish, the supervisor of the Balaji restaurant in Anna Nagar, informed ThePrint. “We try to handle so long as we are able to.”

Sigaram, an everyday at one of many affected eating places in Arumbakkam, appears to be agreeing with the DMK’s contentions. “The battle has been happening for a lot of days now and the folks in India are additionally affected. The federal government officers, the Prime Minister aren’t going to do something as a result of they don’t seem to be affected however the folks of Tamil Nadu are…,” he stated.

The BJP, in response to him, might have an alliance however it may possibly by no means come to energy in Tamil Nadu.

(Edited by Tony Rai)