Petrol and diesel prices hike LIVE: Opposition parties slam Centre; IOCL calls hike 'very small rise'

Anbumani Ramadoss noted that petrol in Chennai costs ₹103.90 per litre and diesel ₹95.47 per litre following the increase.

In Thiruvananthapuram, petrol is now priced at ₹110.76 per litre, while diesel has reached ₹99.64 per litre after the hike.

Vasupalli Janakiram, national president of the East Coast Mechanized Fishing Boat Owners Association, said a single boat requires 10,000 litres of diesel monthly, and the ₹3 per litre rise translates to about ₹30,000 more per month per vessel.

Farmers in Andhra Pradesh said the hike will burden agriculture; a paddy farmer noted higher fuel costs would affect farming, and an aqua farmer warned diesel costs could impact aquaculture.

Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the Modi government over the fuel price hike, alleging a leadership crisis, lack of vision and incompetence.

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss urged immediate withdrawal of the hike, saying the rise will inflict hardships on daily life and should have been avoided.

Former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated the central government was imposing an unjust burden and demanded withdrawal of the hike.

Kerala CM-designate V. D. Satheesan said he was discussing with officials how to reduce the impact of the price rise on the public and would decide after assessment.

A petrol bunk owner in Nagari said after price hikes traffic fell, with drivers buying only two or three litres to cross the border.

In border towns such as Nagari, Kuppam, V.Kota, Palamaner and Madanapalle, motorists planned to cross into Tamil Nadu or Karnataka where fuel is cheaper.

Across the tri-state junction of the Chittoor district, petrol hovered around ₹113 per litre and diesel around ₹100 per litre in most towns and border-facing pumps.

Retail outlets in Chennai pushed premium petrol variants costing about ₹9 more per litre and began rationing diesel for heavy vehicles to prevent diversion to industrial users.

Congress leaders criticized the government, accusing it of deferring the decision until after assembly elections. Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra mocked the Prime Minister for a five-nation foreign trip, and former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said the rise followed elections to gain votes.

IOCL described the price increase as a 'very small rise' in its communications.

A fresh fuel price hike came into effect on Friday, with petrol and diesel each increased by ₹3 per litre. The rise was observed in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, triggering immediate concern among motorists and traders.