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The political climate in West Bengal is heating up due to a shortage of cooking and vehicle gas. In response, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a protest march in Kolkata.

According to reports, the march is set to commence from College Square in Kolkata and will proceed to Dorina Crossing at Esplanade on Monday. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be joined by the party's national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee.

The primary aim of this march is to voice opposition against the rising prices of cooking gas and vehicle gas, as well as the associated supply issues. A poster released by the party indicates that the public is facing difficulties due to the sharp increase in gas prices and related decisions.

Recently, there has been a sudden surge in demand for gas cylinders in various regions of West Bengal. The state government reported that cylinder bookings have skyrocketed from around 200,000 to nearly 600,000 in just a few days, putting immense pressure on the supply chain.

The state government has also criticized the central government's policies regarding this issue. Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya pointed out that the ongoing conflict in West Asia was anticipated to impact energy supplies, yet the central government failed to make adequate preparations.

She emphasized that a significant portion of India's cooking gas imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a fact that was publicly known. Despite this, no substantial measures were taken to establish alternative supply routes or strategic reserves.

Recently, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held an emergency meeting with state officials and representatives from oil marketing companies. During this meeting, several directives were issued to meet the state's energy needs.

The Chief Minister instructed officials to halt the supply of gas produced in state refineries to outside regions, prioritizing local needs instead.

The state government is also striving to ensure that the midday meal scheme in schools, anganwadi centers, hospitals, and domestic consumers are not affected by the gas supply issues.

However, the opposition has raised questions about the state government's handling of the situation. The state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Samik Bhattacharya, accused the ruling party of creating an artificial crisis and disrupting the gas distribution system.

In response, the state government dismissed these allegations, asserting that the opposition lacks concrete solutions for the public and is resorting to baseless accusations.

The gas crisis has led to long queues in several areas, with auto drivers waiting for hours to refuel. Additionally, complaints have surfaced regarding the high prices of cylinders in the market.

Reports of black marketing of cylinders have also emerged in some areas, where the price for a single cylinder has reached approximately 2,500 rupees.

Moreover, several government hospitals have had to rely on private cylinders to maintain meal provisions for patients, with some hospitals reporting gas shortages, raising concerns about the situation.

Experts warn that if energy supply issues persist, it could adversely affect the daily lives of the public and the local economy.