News Broadcasting
Star News’ exclusive survey questions the Gandhi clan’s credibility
MUMBAI: Following close on the heels of the announcement made by the Congress Party to field Rahul Gandhi from Amethi, Star News decided to do some probing. The news channel commissioned a survey which was aimed at getting public responses on various issues with regards to Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and the Congress.
The findings of the survey are as under:
1. Are you aware that Rahul Gandhi has decided to contest the election from Amethi?
Yes
No
Can’t Say
Congress Voters
77.10%
17.90%
4.90%
Non Congress Voters
71.50%
23.10%
5.40%
2. Will Rahuls entry into politics help the Congress to perform better in the upcoming elections?
Yes
No
Can’t Say
Congress Voters
72.40%
16.70%
10.90%
Non Congress Voters
56.20% 31.10%
12.70%
3. Are you more likely to support the Congress after the entry of Rahul Gandhi?
Yes
No
Can’t Say
Congress Voters
67.20% 19.10% 13.60%
Non Congress Voters
42.20% 39.10% 18.80%
4. Who is better equipped to lead the Congress Rahul or Priyanka?
Rahul
Priyanka
Both
None Can’t say
Congress Voters 46.20% 36.70% 10.30% 2.40% 4.40%
Non Congress Voters 25.80% 40.60% 15.40% 10.90%
7.20%
5. Who is more acceptable to you as a Prime Minister Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi?
Sonia
Rahul
Others/Can’t Say
Congress Voters
50.60% 35.60% 13.70%
Non Congress Voters
44.50% 32.00% 23.50%
6. Can the Congress win the elections and form the government if it projected Rahul Gandhi as a PM candidate?
Yes
No
Can’t Say
Congress Voters
46.20%
38.60% 15.20%
Non Congress Voters
34.20% 48.20% 17.60%
7. Do you find Rahul Gandhi fit enough to be the Prime Minister of India?
Yes
No
Yes, because he represents the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty
32.40%
13.80%
Yes, because he is young and energetic
22.40%
19.20%
Yes, because unlike his mother, he is a born Indian
6.80%
4.70%
Yes, because I don’t like the BJP led government
2.70%
3.00%
Yes, for some other reason
3.80%
3.20%
Total Yes
68.10%
43.90%
No, because he has no experience
24.70%
37.40%
No, because his mother is a foreigner
1.50%
3.00%
No, because I am against any dynastic rule
2.50%
7.90%
No, because people don’t know much about him
1.00%
2.70%
No, for some other reason
2.20%
5.20%
Total No
31.90%
56.20%
8. Who is better to be a Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee or Sonia Gandhi?
Vajpayee
Sonia
Others/Can’t Say
Congress Voters
52.30% 36.30% 11.40%
Non Congress Voters
67.90%
19.20%
12.90%
9. Do you consider Sonia Gandhi as foreigner?
Yes
No
Can’t Say
Congress Voters
27.50% 64.30% 8.20%
Non Congress Voters
47.30% 48.20% 4.40%
10. Do you consider Rahul/Priyanka Gandhi as foreigners?
Yes
No
Can’t Say
Congress Voters
10.20% 84.60% 5.20%
Non Congress Voters
13.10% 82.90% 4.00%
The above survey was conducted on 22 March in the state of Uttar Pradesh by reputed agency C Voters. From the figures that were thrown up, it looks like the Vajpayee clan is definitely stronger than the Gandhi clan. Not that there was a doubt anyway.
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.
