Guwahati, Feb 12: In a breather, Assam government had on Friday made petrol and diesel cheaper by Rs 5 by removing an additional levied last year at the peak of Covid-19 pandemic.

Assam Finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the revised rate will come into effect from today (Friday) midnight.

Sarma, while presenting the vote on account in the Assam Assembly on Friday, said that 25 per cent additional cess on liquor is also done away with.

Both the move are expected to garner support in favour of the ruling BJP ahead of the Assembly elections in April this year.

In a structured way, Assam and Meghalaya hiked petrol and diesel prices last year.

Nagaland had levied Covid-19 cess of Rs 5 per litre of diesel and Rs 6 on petrol and motor spirit after Assam and Meghalaya increased prices of petrol and diesel.

Neighbouring Meghalaya had levied sales tax surcharge at 2 per cent on motor spirit including petrol (but excluding motor spirit used as fuel for aircraft, diesel oil and other internal combustion oil), diesel oil and other internal combustion.