The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led West Bengal government has announced that the state will slash sales tax on petrol and diesel effective from Wednesday midnight. Finance Minister Ashim Dasgupta said sales tax on petrol would be reduced from 25 percent to 20 percent, which means it will cost Rs.2.12 less per litre than the actual rate.

Similarly, sales tax of diesel will be reduced from 17 percent to 12.5 percent, which will mean a cost of Rs 1.38 less per litre.

The state government will incur an approximate loss of Rs.5 billion ($119 million) to carry out this tax revision.

Dasgupta, however, said LPG tax would remain the same.