India, May 31 -- For a man who loves flash and pomp, it must have really hurt - swapping his fuel-guzzling Land Cruiser for an EV - never mind that the EV just happens to be a Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 580.

This was transport minister Pratap Sarnaik responding to the prime minister's 'Nation First' call, urging citizens to conserve fuel and, if possible, avoid unnecessary travel to contain the fallout of the West Asia crisis.

"Under the circumstances, it makes sense to buy an electric vehicle," says the Shiv Sena minister, stepping out of his luxury purchase, costing a cool Rs.1.53 crore.

The son of a journalist and a teacher, Sarnaik is a man of humble moorings. He was born in Wardha in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region but raised in Dombivli...