Priyank Kharge mocks R. Ashoka over Metro Phase-2 event snub, hints at leadership trouble
Bengaluru: Rural Development, Panchayat Raj and IT Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday mocked Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka after his name was omitted from the official invitation for the Bengaluru Metro Phase-2 inauguration.
Taking to social media platform X, Kharge questioned whether Ashoka’s own party colleagues in the BJP were now opposing him. He pointed out that while the Union government had given a spot on the dais to first-time MLA and non-Bengaluru legislator B.Y. Vijayendra, it had denied the same to R. Ashoka, a senior BJP leader, multiple-term MLA, former Bengaluru legislator, and the current Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
“Has the Union government forgotten protocol, or was this a deliberate snub?” Kharge asked, suggesting the incident could be read as a signal that Ashoka’s “chair might be on the verge of being pulled away.”
In a sarcastic remark, Priyank Kharge told R. Ashoka, “You were once busy worrying about who wished whom on their birthday. Now, it is your turn to worry about ‘why was I not invited?’ Instead of peeping into others’ houses, you should focus on the fact that your own foundation is shaking.”
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
