New Delhi, April 23 -- Amid high oil prices, state-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) are losing Rs.20 per litre on the sale of petrol and around Rs.100 on diesel sale, said Sujata Sharma, joint secretary, ministry of petroleum and natural gas.

Denying reports of a likely surge in fuel prices of up to Rs.28 per litre after the ongoing assembly elections, Sharma said that although global prices are volatile, steps such as excise duty cut on petrol and diesel have been taken to shield consumers from price hikes.

The statement gains significance as the state assembly elections are set to end on 29 April. While the polls in Assam and Kerala were held on 9 April, polls in Tamil Nadu and the first phase of voting in West Bengal were held on T...