Cong MLA claims DK Shivakumar will become K'taka CM after Dec, faces party action
Bengaluru, Aug 16 (PTI): Karnataka Congress MLA Basavaraju V Shivaganga on Saturday claimed that Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will become the CM of the state after December.
However, Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state president, termed Shivaganga's statement as a "violation of party discipline" and said a notice will be served to him.
"After December D K will become the CM...," Shivaganga, MLA from Channagiri told reporters in Davangere.
The MLA has previouisly made similar statements to the media about a change in the Chief Minister's post, asserting that Shivakumar will assume the role in the coming days.
Later in the day, Shivakumar in a statement said despite several warnings, Shivaganga continued to make such statements. "A notice will be served to him."
"No one should talk about the CM post and other issues. MLAs should follow party discipline. They should not cross the line. They have been strictly instructed in the past not to create confusion by making unnecessary statements. Despite this, Shivaganga once again making a statement on the matter is in violation of party discipline. Therefore, a notice will be served to him," Shivakumar said.
Speculation has been rife within state's political circles, especially within the ruling Congress, about a possible change of Chief Minister change later this year, citing a power-sharing agreement between incumbent Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
Amid these speculations, Siddaramaiah had asserted that he will be the Chief Minister for a full five-year term.
There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister's post after the declaration of Assembly election results in May 2023, and the Congress had managed to convince the latter and made him the Deputy CM.
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West Asia: India supplied 22,000 MT of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March, says MEA
New Delhi (PTI): Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, India has supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March and has received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements, the MEA said on Friday.
At his weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in his response to a query related to requests received from India's neighbouring countries for fuel amid the West Asia situation, also said that India is "finalising a government-to-government agreement" for the supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing energy security of Mauritius.
The conflict in West Asia has now stretched to nearly 50 days, with global ramifications.
"So, we have received requests from our neighbouring countries for supply of fuel, and these are being looked into, keeping in mind our own requirements, availability and refining capacity," Jaiswal told reporters.
He further said India has "supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March 2026, and further supplies have continued this month as well".
"You would recall that last month we had supplied 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka as well," he added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Mauritius last week, the MEA spokesperson said, adding, "We are finalising a government-to-government agreement for supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing the energy security of Mauritius".
As far as Nepal is concerned, there is an existing arrangement between Indian Oil Corporation and Nepal Oil Corporation to supply petroleum products to Nepal as per its requirements. The supplies are continuing without any interruption, he said.
Energy supplies to Bhutan also continue according to the existing arrangement.
"As I had mentioned earlier, we have received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements. We continue to be in touch with them in this regard, and are considering the request keeping in mind our own domestic requirements and availability of fuel.
"I would also like to add that our neighbouring country governments have expressed appreciation for the uninterrupted supply, fuel supply to them during the West Asian conflict," Jaiswal said.
Global oil and gas prices surged after Iran restricted the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG trade.
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