CPI(M) Tirupati District Committee members staged a protest against the increased prices of commercial cylinders by placing empty cylinders and empty idli pots and gas stoves on the road near Gandhi statue in Tirupati on Saturday (May 2, 2026). They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the additional charge of ₹993.50 on a 19 kg commercial gas cylinder.

CPI(M) district secretary Vandavasi Nagaraju demanded that the government provide financial assistance to small traders and operators of tiffin centres who have lost their income. He further emphasised the need to prevent black marketing of gas and oil in the State. He also urged the Central government to allocate 50% of the gas and oil from the KG Basin to Andhra Pradesh.