Shivakumar plays down speculations about cabinet reshuffle in Karnataka
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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday played down speculations about the cabinet reshuffle in the state, calling it a "rumour" in the media.
Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president, said the party high command will decide on it.
Speculations are rife about a change of guard and cabinet reshuffle in the state when the Congress government reaches the halfway mark of its five-year term in November, which is being referred to by some as the "November revolution".
"No cabinet (reshuffle), nothing. It is all rumour in the media, listening to some people. The talks are in the media. Either me or the chief minister has to speak about it. When both of us have not spoken, what is there in it?" Shivakumar told reporters in response to a question.
He said, "Some people are in urgency (to become ministers). If their names come in the media, they will go door to door (of leaders). There is no chance for it. Everything will be decided by the high command."
According to party sources, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his camp are pushing for a reshuffle.
They said, any move by the chief minister to effect cabinet reshuffle, as the government is about to complete 2.5 years in office, will be seen as a message that he is at the helm and will continue to do so, which may come across as a setback for Shivakumar, who is waiting to lay claim to the chief minister's chair.
There has been speculation within state's political circles, especially within the ruling Congress, for some time now about the chief minister change later this year, claiming power-sharing agreement involving Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
There has also been a demand for some time now, from a section of Congress MLAs, who are ministerial aspirants, to be inducted into the cabinet by effecting a rejig. Some have even openly expressed their wish to become ministers.
Karnataka has a sanctioned strength of 34 ministers, including the CM.
Two berths in the cabinet are currently vacant -- following the resignation of B Nagendra as a minister following allegations against him in connection with embezzlement at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation, and the recent sacking of K N Rajanna from the cabinet on the instructions from the party high command.
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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.
