Proposed strike of petrol dealers in Maharashtra called off

The proposed indefinite strike called by petrol dealers in Maharashtra from midnight has been called off after mediation by Vinod Tawade, BJP leader and leader of opposition in the state legislative council, according to a BJP release.

The decision was taken after Tawade assured leaders of Federation of All Maharashtra Petrol Dealers' Association, including its president Uday Lodha, that Shiv Sena-BJP alliance would positively consider scrapping local body tax and reducing VAT if voted to power in the October assembly election, it added.

According to Lodha, Maharashtra government did not hold any talks with the Association to avert the strike.