Fuel prices are back in the political spotlight as the Congress party launches a sharp attack on the Modi government over the latest petrol and diesel price hike. Calling PM Narendra Modi “Mehngai Man”, Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal accused the Centre of pushing the burden of economic pressure onto ordinary citizens right after elections. The opposition has alleged that while global crude oil prices saw periods of decline, the government failed to provide relief to the public and instead increased fuel costs once polling concluded. Kharge described the situation as a “Modi-made crisis”, linking rising inflation, expensive fuel and growing pressure on middle-class and poor families to the Centre’s economic policies.

The suspense over Kerala’s next Chief Minister has finally ended with the Congress high command backing VD Satheesan after days of intense political negotiations, factional lobbying and high-stakes consultations in Delhi. The decision comes after a dramatic power tussle inside the Congress camp, with multiple senior leaders and alliance stakeholders pushing competing claims for the top post following the UDF’s massive electoral victory. From late-night strategy meetings to closed-door discussions involving Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and senior Congress leadership, the Kerala CM race turned into one of the most closely watched political battles in recent times. VD Satheesan’s emergence is now being seen as a major reset in Kerala Congress politics, potentially reshaping the party’s internal power structure ahead of the new government formation.