TIRUNELVELI l thursday l april 30, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l CITY EDITION draft policy on higher ethanol, biofuel blends to cut oil imports e100, E85 petrol coming soon in fuel bunks The draft changes to Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 aim to promote wider use of E85 (85% ethanol blended petrol) and E100 (pure ethanol) fuels as well as B100 biodiesel and hydrogen-CNG combinations. This amendment opens the regulatory door for flex-fuel vehicles and pure biofuel vehicles across all vehicle categories, including two-wheelers and passenger cars | P10 The government has proposed amendments to motor vehicle rules to widen the scope for higher ethanol blends and alternative fuels weight limit for LCVs raised to 3,500 kg ■ ■ It also raises the vehicle weight limit from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV), meaning more vans and small trucks will now fall under the same emission testing rules The government said the draft would be taken up after 30-day public consultation period, during which stakeholders can submit objections e20 is the current standard petrol sold across fuel outlets in India CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI High energy cost transfer inevitable to users: Govt Fewer cases of violence and voter intimidation in West Bengal amid record polling, close to 92% votes cast in the second and final phase; exit polls predict BJP+ retaining power in Assam, Pondy; wait begins for May 4 counting Overall turnout close to 92% in West Bengal exit poll D I PA K M O N D A L @ New Delhi it is “inevitable” for countries to pass on higher energy costs to households and industries, according to the Union finance ministry . “Some countries have begun to allow prices to be passed on to end-users – households and businesses. Some are yet to do so. But it is inevitable,” the finance ministry said in its monthly economic review, released on Wednesday . It added that during times of supply disruption, demand has to moderate; otherwise, countries will have to pay a much higher price for energy supplies. Calling for macroeconomic stability, it said any attempts to restore near-term growth may cause significant harm to medium- to long-term growth prospects. The ministry also hinted at prolonged pain, saying restoring energy supplies would take time. “Many international agencies appear guilty of assuming a swift restoration of normalcy to energy supplies. The forecasts do not appear to account for the time required to restore production and resume shipping,” it said, adding that energy prices may stay at higher levels. India’s crude oil basket averaged $113 per barrel in March, and it is just under $115 per barrel for April. According to an ICRA report, marketing margins are estimated at negative `14/litre and `18/litre for petrol and diesel, respectively It further . noted that domestic LPG under recoveries are estimated at `80,000 crore for FY27. According to the ministry , the crisis must be treated as an opportunity to carry out more reforms, including prioritising energy security by creating strategic reserves. It said the domestic decriminalisation and deregulation agenda should proceed irrespective of external developments. Also, regulatory simplification that lowers the cost of imports and exports will be particularly valuable in these times. Trump tells Iran he’s ‘no more mr nice guy’ US President Donald Trump warned Iran to “better get smart soon” and move towards a deal with Washington as he criticised Tehran’s handling of nuclear negotiations | p9 DMK may hold TN, oppn surge seen in Kerala, bengal West Bengal Agency TMC+ BJP VoteVibe (152/294) 51-61 88-98 Matrize 125-140 146-161 PMARQ 118-138 146-161 JVC 131-152 138-159 Chanakya Strategies 130-140 150-160 Peoples Pulse 177-187 95-110 Poll Diary 99-127 142-171 Poll of Polls 131-151 137-157 P r eetha N ai r @ New Delhi INC 2-4 6-10 0-2 0-0 1-3 0-0 1-3 OTH 0 6-10 0-0 0-2 6-10 0-2 5-9 2-6 Agency VoteVibe Axis My India Matrize PMARQ Peoples Pulse People’s Insight JVC Poll of Polls Tamil Nadu DMK+ ADMK+ 103-113 114-124 92-110 22-32 122-132 87-100 125-145 65-85 125-145 65-80 120-140 60-70 75-95 128-147 122-134 80-88 TVK 4-10 98-120 10-12 16-26 18-24 30-40 8-15 15-23 OTH 0 0 0-6 1-6 2-6 0-4 0-0 2-4 Agency VoteVibe Matrize PMARQ JVC Axis My India Peoples Pulse Poll of Polls Kerala LDF UDF 58-68 70-80 60-65 70-75 62-69 71-79 52-61 72-84 49-62 78-90 55-65 75-85 55-65 71-81 NDA 0-4 3-5 1-4 3-7 0-3 0-3 2-6 OTH 0 0 0-3 0 0 0 0 Agency VoteVibe Axis My India JVC Chanakya Strategies Matrize PMARQ Poll of Polls Agency Axis My India Peoples Pulse Poll of Polls Assam BJP+ INC+ 90-100 23-33 88-100 24-36 88-101 23-33 88-98 22-32 85-95 25-32 82-94 30-40 88-98 25-35 AUDF 0-6 2-2 03-05 1-3 Puducherry BJP+ INC+ 16-20 6-8 16-19 10-12 18 9 OTH 0 0-3 0-3 0-0 6-12 1-5 0-1 OTH 3-7 1-2 3 Current party positions West Bengal 294 TMC BJP ConG 221 65 1 Indepen Oth Vacant 1 3 3 Vacant 7 Tamil Nadu DMK+ AIADMK+ 234 158 Assam NDA 75 50 Kerala LDF UDF Vacant 94 42 4 126 140 Puducherry NDA 30 16 69 Cong-led Indepen alliance 1 Cong+ 14 HC asks CBI to probe `397-cr EB tender ‘scam’ during Balaji’s term Suspicion of cover-up Flagging issues in the procedures adopted by the state and the DVAC, the HC bench said such actions create suspicion of “cover-up designed to shield highranking officials and political figures” R S I V A K U M A R @ Chennai The Madras High Court on Wednesday ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged `397 crore tender irregularities in the procurement of 45,800 transformers for the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) during the tenure of V Senthil Balaji as Minister for Electricity from 2021 to 2023. While transferring the probe from Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to the CBI, the court said its conclusion is strictly confined to procedural irregularities in the handling of the complaints by the DVAC, not on the merits of the tender process. “We are of the firm view that this matter warrants referral to an independent agency it said. ,” P5 With polling ending for the high stakes elections in four states and a Union Territory, several exit polls on Wednesday predicted a convincing victory for the BJP in Assam and an edge for the Assembly party over the ruling elections TMC in West Bengal, while projecting a second innings for the DMK in Tamil Nadu and a comeback by the Congress-led UDF in Kerala. Pollsters also forecast the AINRC-led NDA government continuing in power in Puducherry. However, exit polls outcomes could be misleading. In the most keenly watched contest in West Bengal, at least five exit polls predicted a BJP win with 146-175 seats, while two pollsters — People’s Pulse and Janmat polls — gave a stunning win for Mamata Banerjeeled TMC. Matrize said BJP is likely to get 146-161 seats, the TMC was projected to get 125140 seats. In Tamil Nadu, several exit polls forecast a big win for the DMK with the People’s Pulse giving 125-145 to the DMK-led alliance, 65-80 to AIADMK-BJP and 18-24 to actor Vijay’s TVK, which is making its poll debut. However, two exit polls caught everyone by surprise as they predicted a hung House. Axis My India forecast 92-110 for the ruling DMK-led alliance, 22-23 for AIADMK+ and 98-120 for TVK. Another pollster Kamakhya Analytics forecast 78-95 seats for DMK+, 68-84 for AIADMK+ and 67-81 for the TVK. In Kerala, where Pinarayi Vijayan led LDF was looking for a third term, most pollsters predicted a comeback of the Congress-led UDF. According to Axis My India the UDF would get 78-90 seats, while LDF may get 49-62 and NDA 0-3. Kerala has a total of 140 seats with the majority mark at 71. In Assam, Axis My India predicted a sweep for the BJP fore, casting 88-100 seats for BJP+ and 24-36 for Congress+. People’s Pulse predicted that the NDA would get 68-72 seats in Assam while Congress+ would secure 22-26 seats. As for Puducherry, Axis My India predicted 16-20 for NDA and 6-8 for DMK-Congress. Express Read Cong will be part of govt or in oppn: Chodankar Chennai: AICC (TN in-charge) Girish Chodankar on Tuesday said Congress can no longer afford to be a neutral player. It will be part of the new DMK govt or work as the opposition, he said | P4 HC to state: Allow full leave for 3rd pregnancy Chennai: Madras HC has held that no discrimination could be shown in approving maternity benefits to employees, and asked the state to approve full leave for third pregnancy of a woman staff | P2 S U B H E N D U M A I T I @ Kolkata West Bengal recorded robust polling in the second and final phase of elections with poll-participation touching 91.66% as of 7.45 pm. In the first phase of elections held on April 23, the voter turnout was 93.19%. The Election Commission of India said the combined turnout of the twophased elections was 92.47% — the highest ever since Independence. The last time the state witnessed such a high voter turnout was in the 2011 assembly polls, at 84.72%, when the Trinamool Congress stormed to power by ending 34 years of CPI(M) rule. High voter turnout was visible from the morning with the figure touching 80% as of 3 pm. It rose to 90% by 5 pm. West Bengal has 294 assembly seats. In the first phase, polls were held in 152 constituencies. In the second phase, 142 seats including the high-profile Bhaban i p u r, o u t g o i n g ch i e f minister Mamata Banerjee’s home turf in south Kolkata, went to poll. Compared with past elections riddled with poll violence leading to grievous injuries and deaths, no major bloodbaths were reported in the 2026 assembly elections. The polling was Voters show their ink-marked fingers after casting their votes in Kolkata on Wednesday | PTI largely peaceful though sporadic incidents of violence, intimidations and tampering of EVMs were reported from some districts, prompting security forces to resort to baton charge. Mamata Banerjee alleged security personnel of central armed forces targeted her party workers. “Central forces unleashed terror at the behest of the BJP in the name of holding free and fair elections. They beat and dragged out TMC agents from polling booths in different districts,” she alleged. The BJP alleged that in some polling stations in Falta, the option to vote for the party was blocked using a tape over EVM poll buttons. Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal said repolling was likely to be announced in booths where EVMs were found tampered with. Court: Religion no bar, Hindu couple can adopt a Muslim child J E G A D E E S W A R I PA N D I A N @ Madurai Observing that the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, is religion-neutral and it will apply to every person desirous of being appointed as a guardian of a minor, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has appointed a Hindu couple as the legal guardian of a minor girl belonging to Muslim community . A bench of Justices N Anand Venkatesh and KK Ramakrishnan passed the verdict by setting aside an order passed by a Family Court in Madurai rejecting the couple’s application in September last year on the ground that the child was female and the couple were strangers to her. The couple got married in 2012 and since they could not conceive, they decided to adopt a child. The child’s mother lived in their neighbourhood and has known them for more than 10 years. She is a daily wage worker and has two children and gave birth to the third child in December 2023. P5