News Broadcasting
BJP likely to get emerge as the single-largest party in Delhi polls
MUMBAI: BJP likely to get around 32 seats with a vote share of 33 per cent in the upcoming Delhi assembly polls, predicts ABP News-Dainik Bhaskar-Nielsen opinion poll. Congress is predicted to get 25 seats with 26 per cent vote share. Arvind Kejriwal likely to get 10 seats with 23 per cent vote share.
According to the ABP News-Dainik Bhaskar-Nielsen, there are 15-20 seats which are being won by a narrow margin of 2%. These seats could impact the final outcome. We have tried to simulate three According to the ABP News-Dainik Bhaskar-Nielsen survey, more than half of all respondents surveyed (56%) feel that BJP would benefit in the upcoming assembly elections by naming Dr. Harsh Vardhan as the Chief Minister candidate. Both Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Arvind Kejriwal are neck and neck when it comes to the most preferred CM. From the cross tab it can deduce that 10 per cent of respondents who intend to vote for BJP prefer Arvind Kejriwal as the most preferred CM candidate.
As per the ABP News-Dainik Bhaskar-Nielsen survey, Sheila Dikshit has to bear the brunt of the corruption charges involving the Central government. According to the survey, the reason for switch from BJP to AAP is because of the leader of AAP: the Kejriwal appeal.
Inflation – major reasons for switch from INC to BJP or AAP
According to the ABP News-Dainik Bhaskar-Nielsen survey, inflation is the key factor working against INC. People do recognize the work done by the Sheila Dikshit government over the last several years but rampant inflation seems to have wiped out the goodwill. As per the survey, people feel that if the Delhi govt. wants it can control inflation, hence the resentment.
As per the ABP News-Dainik Bhaskar-Nielsen survey, AAP is seen as a party that can bring down corruption; BJP is seen as a party that can control inflation and INC is seen as a party that can maintain law and order.
Main reason for party switch from INC to either BJP or AAP is the perceived inability of the Congress government to control rising prices.
Soaring vegetable prices may prove to be a deciding factor in polls
According to the ABP News-Dainik Bhaskar-Nielsen survey, a vast majority (81%) feels that the soaring vegetable prices may prove to be the deciding factor in the upcoming assembly elections. Majority (64%) feels that Delhi state government can control prices of vegetables and other essential goods.
Majority feels that Delhi is very unsafe for women
As per the ABP News-Dainik Bhaskar-Nielsen survey, there is a divided opinion with 47% saying that crime is increasing as Delhi police is busy protecting VIPs and 40% saying that absence of fear of law among people is the reason behind increase in crime in Delhi. At an overall level almost 1/3rd of respondents feel that the poor policing is the most important reason behind increase in crime against women. Across both genders and all regions majority feels that the city is very unsafe for women.
The opinion poll has been conducted by ABP News-Dainik Bhaskar-Nielsen with 6340 respondents. The survey was conducted on field between 29th October 2013 to 14th November 27, 2013.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
