DK Suresh shocks supporters, says unsure if he will continue in politics, contest LS elections
Bengaluru: Bangalore Rural MP DK Suresh, the sole Congress Lok Sabha representative from Karnataka, has left his supporters in surprise by expressing uncertainty regarding his participation in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
Speaking at a gathering in Girigowdapalya, Kunigal taluk, where he was thanking voters for the Congress' success in the recently concluded Assembly elections, Suresh shared, "At present, I am unable to decide whether I should contest the Lok Sabha elections next year."
The audience, comprising party workers and Suresh's supporters, was taken aback by his statement, especially when he further expressed uncertainty about continuing in the field of politics. They urged him not to step away from politics and encouraged him to contest the elections without fail.
In response, Suresh assured the party workers and his supporters, stating, "I will make a decision within the next three days after consulting all of you. My intention is to serve and represent all of you, and I aspire to make Kunigal a model taluk."
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MK Stalin urges PM Modi to intervene after Saudi cancels 52,000 private Hajj seats
New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to intervene after Saudi Arabia abruptly cancelled approximately 52,000 Hajj seats allocated to private tour operators. The move has triggered widespread anxiety among Indian Muslim pilgrims preparing for the upcoming pilgrimage.
In his letter, Stalin expressed deep concern over the “sudden reduction” in India’s Hajj quota for private operators, describing the development as a matter of urgent concern. He emphasized that many pilgrims, including those from Tamil Nadu, had already made full payments and were left in distress due to the uncertainty caused by the cancellation.
"I request that the matter may be taken up with the authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia urgently and seek an expeditious remedy,” Stalin wrote, expressing hope that PM Modi’s intervention would help restore the cancelled quota and provide reassurance to affected families.
India had signed a bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia in January 2025, finalising a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for Hajj 2025. This was split in a 70:30 ratio between State Hajj Committees and private operators—allocating 1,22,517 seats to the former and 52,507 to the latter.
However, Saudi Arabia has now reduced the private Hajj quota by nearly 80 per cent, affecting close to 52,000 Indian pilgrims. The decision reportedly stems from revised policies and stricter timelines for private tour operators, which several failed to meet despite repeated reminders.
In a partial relief, the Saudi government has agreed to India's request to reopen the Hajj Portal for Combined Hajj Group Operators (CHGOs), allowing an additional 10,000 pilgrims to register under the private category.
