Auto drivers in the city, who form a huge section of Arvind Kejriwal's supporters, have threatened a strike.
, who will be sworn in as Delhi's chief minister on Saturday, said today that he will assess on his very first day at work whether it was necessary to effect a steep hike in the price of CNG in the capital.
The price of CNG or compressed natural gas was raised by Rs. 4.50 per kg yesterday, the second hike in three months, and Mr Kejriwal immediately questioned the timing. "CNG rates hiked in Delhi. Isn't the time suspect?" he had tweeted on Thursday.
This morning he said his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government would try and see if a rollback of the hike was possible. "We will try to solve this problem within two days. We will see if the hike can be rolled back," he said.
He also promised to address the related issue of Delhi's auto-rickshaw drivers threatening a stir if fares are not raised. "If it is absolutely necessary to hike CNG prices, then auto fares will have to go up too," Mr Kejriwal said, acknowledging the role "autowalas" have played in the stunning debut that his party made in the Delhi elections this month.
All of Delhi's public transport runs on CNG and the hike has thrown up an immediate challenge for the new AAP government that takes over tomorrow.
Yesterday's price hike means that CNG now costs Rs. 50.10 per kg in Delhi and Rs. 56.70 per kg in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. Price of CNG was last revised in September when it was hiked by a hefty Rs. 3.70 per kg.
The price of cooking gas piped to kitchens has been also increased by Rs. 5.15 per kg.