THURSDAY 30 APRIL, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard DRAFT POLICY ON HIGHER ETHANOL, BIOFUEL BLENDS TO CUT OIL IMPORTS PROTOCOL BREACHED PRIVATE TALK WITH CHARLES REVEALED The government has proposed amendments to motor vehicle rules to widen the scope for higher ethanol blends and alternative fuels E100, E85 PETROL COMING SOON IN FUEL BUNKS Donald Trump said during a pvt meeting with King Charles III the the British monarch had agreed with him that Iran should never be allowed to have N-weapons. A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 High energy cost transfer inevitable to users: Govt  NEW DELHI  TRUMP REJECTS IRAN OFFER ON HORMUZ US President Donald Trump said he found the Hormuz blockade a little better option than war, while rejecting Iran’s proposal to open the strait but put off talks on the nuclear question | P9 PAGES 12 Overall turnout close to 93% in West Bengal EXIT POLL 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 E E T H A N A I 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 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 Banerjee-led TMC. Matrize said that BJP is likely to get 146-161 seats and the TMC was projected to get 125-140 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. P7 & P8 Modi launches 594-km Ganga Exp, sounds UP poll bugle taking potshots at ‘anti-women’ SP `36K cr corridors The project, one of India’s largest access-controlled corridors, was completed in just over three years under PPP model. Built at a cost of `36,200 crore, the e-way will cut travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj.  Fewer cases of violence and voter intimidation in Bengal amid record polling, about 93% votes cast in the second and final phase; exit polls predict BJP+ retaining power in Assam and Pondy; wait begins for May 4 counting 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. J8.00 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 N A M I TA B A J PA I @ Lucknow PM Narendra Modi, immediately after the West Bengal poll campaign, set the tone for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections due early next year by targetting the Samajwadi Party (SP), calling it antidevelopment and anti-women, while addressing a gathering in Hardoi on Wednesday . After inaugurating Uttar Pradesh’s longest 594-km-long Ganga Expressway, linking Meerut in the west with Prayagraj in the east and passing through a dozen districts and over 500 villages along the Ganga, the PM delivered a speech laden with political messaging. He launched a scathing attack on the SP, accusing it of appeasement politics and of standing by mafia and anti-social elements during its rule. Slamming the opposition over the defeat of the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill, he said the SP aligned with parties like the DMK that “never let go of any opportunity to abuse and ridicule the people of Uttar Pradesh. The SP reaches Parliament by the support of UP voters but sides with the DMK and other such parties, which use abusive language against the people of UP .” Referring to the Nari Shakti Vandan Vidheyak, he said, “People watched the true colours of SP and Congress when they ensured its fall in Parliament. SP is anti-women.” P4 S U B H E N D U M A I T I @ Kolkata WEST Bengal on Wednesday recorded robust polling in the second and final phase of elections with poll participation touching 92.67%, according to the approximate polling trends updated on ECINet app at 12.30 am Thursday . In the first phase of polls held on April 23, the voter turnout was 93.19%. With the latest figures, the overall turnout is 92.93%—the highest in the state since Independence. The last time the state witnessed such a high turnout was in 2011, at 84.72%, when the Trinamool Congress stormed to power by ending 34 years of CPM 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 seats. In the first phase, polls were held in 152 constituencies. In the second phase, 142 seats including the high-profile Bhabanipur, outgoing chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s home turf in south Kolkata, went to poll. C o m p a re d w i t h p a s t elections riddled with poll violence leading to grievous injuries and deaths, no major bloodbaths were reported in the 2026 assembly elections. The polling was largely peaceful Voters show their ink-marked fingers after casting their votes in Kolkata on Wednesday | PTI 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. Pravesh Wahi of BJP elected mayor of Delhi A D I T I R AY C H O W D H U R Y @ New Delhi THE BJP has given the national capital its mayor for the second time in a row, with Pravesh Wahi’s election to the post on Wednesday Moni. ka Pant, also from the BJP, has been elected as the deputy mayor in elections held during the general meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Wahi defeated Haji Zarif of Congress by 147 votes. In all, 165 votes were cast, with no invalid votes. Wahi got 156 votes to Zarif ’s nine. Wahi was previously the MCD Leader of the House and is now a councillor from Ward No. 53 (Rohini-East). Three members of the Standing Committee, all councillors, were elected unopposed: BJP’s Jai Bhagwan Yadav from Ward No. 27 (Begampur), BJP’s Manish Chaddha from Ward No. 82, and AAP councillor Jalaj Kumar from Ward No. 55. AAP didn’t participate in the elections for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor. Wahi promised to address cleanliness, education and healthcare. “We believe in action,” he added. P4