On Monday, political leaders from across the spectrum put aside their differences and congregated in Mumbai to bid adieu to Congress stalwart Murli Deora, who died after suffering from cancer.
"I think this is the best time to go. I have held this post for nearly 23 years and I think the time had come to hand over the reins to the younger generation," he said.
It wasn't known what Sonia Gandhi's reaction was.
Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Murli Deora passed away in Mumbai early Monday morning after prolonged illness.
There are no biennial elections from Karnataka, from where Rajashekharan was elected to Rajya Sabha, as the assembly has been dissolved while in Madhya Pradesh, Pachauri's home state, the Congress has not enough strength to get even a single member through.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Monday hinted at a hike in fuel prices, asserting that a final call on it would be taken by the Group of Ministers in the meeting to be held in New Delhi on June 7.
Parliament was adjourned on Monday morning after condoling the death of 3 sitting members, including former Union minister Murli Deora.
Congress stalwart Murli Deora passed away on Monday morning after battling a prolonged illness. He was a politician who shared rapport across the political and corporate spectrum.
Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and senior Congress leader Murli Deora are among the seven candidates from Maharashtra that were on Friday elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in the biennial polls in Mumbai.
N Suresh pays tribute to a consummate politician who passed into the ages on Monday.
Deora had recently expressed disapproval at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat.
'He messaged me on Friday at 8:52 AM and then at 2:47 PM I replied, 'Are you planning a switch?'. At 2:48 he sent a message, 'is speaking to you not possible?' I said I will call you and at 3:40, I spoke to him'
Senior Congress leader Milind Deora on Saturday dismissed as 'rumours' the speculation that he was on his way out and would join the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Deora further said the Congress has not only failed to come back to power but has also failed to effectively serve as a constructive opposition at the Centre.
Deora said he "regrets the insinuations" made after the Twitter exchange with Modi.
The oaths of secrecy and office will be administered by President A P J Abdul Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhavan at noon
A cross-party delegation led by Congress MP Dr Shashi Tharoor is visiting key American nations to rally global support for India's counter-terror stance under Operation Sindoor, spotlighting regional stability and Pakistan-backed cross-border threats.
Speculation is rife in political circles over the past few days that he is likely to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Official sources indicated on Monday that the government may allocate natural gas to Anil Ambani Group's proposed power plants like the Dadri project in Uttar Pradesh only six months prior to commissioning, as reservation of gas is not allowed under the present policy.
A Group of Ministers will take the decision in June.
The Centre criticised the Maharashtra government on Monday for not honouring its promise to bring down high sales tax on petroleum products and said it 'supports' the demand of striking dealers.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Wednesday dismissed reports of diminishing oil stocks in Mumbai due to non-operation of ports after the oil spill off the coast of the metropolis.
Natural gas producers like Reliance Industries will need government approval for the formula used to calculate the price of the fuel, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said on Tuesday.
Nirupam had been at loggerheads with senior party leaders in the state and the move has come as a bid to quell the intense infighting within the Mumbai Congress.
Petroleum Secretary R S Pandey separately pointed out that the airline had defaulted on payment of fuel bills to oil companies and owed them Rs 259 crore (Rs 2.59 billion). The airline, which is battling to survive the downturn in the industry, has handed out the pink slip to 1,900 employees, mostly cabin crew - which it expected to result in savings of $1 million a month.
"Oil companies are still losing money. . .Please pray that prices come down further so that we can consider reducing fuel prices," Petroleum Minister Murli Deora told reporters.
The proposed Rs 7,000-crore (Rs 70-billion) petrochemical complex of Gas Authority of India at Kochi has been shelved for the time being due to technical issues, according to Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora.
Though the international crude prices were going up, the United Progressive Alliance government's approach was that the subsidy on petroleum products should continue as in the case of food and fertilisers.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Tuesday sought a Re 1 per litre cut in excise duty on diesel to contain runaway inflation.
Oil Minister Murli Deora on Friday indicated there would be no rollback in fuel price hike and hit out at Opposition for "misleading" people on the impact of the rise.
The government has no plans to raise fuel prices in the immediate future and will take a decision in this regard at an "appropriate time", Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said on Tuesday. "An appropriate decision on fuel price will be taken at an appropriate time," Deora said at the Economic Editors' Conference in New Delhi.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Monday ruled out any rollback in the increased prices of petroleum products, saying the hike has been reasonable and minimum. "The hike is reasonable and minimum ...," Deora told reporters here.
Oil Minister Murli Deora has said that petrol and diesel prices would not be cut till crude oil prices fell to $67 a barrel, since the depreciation in the rupee against the US dollar had eroded gains from falling oil prices, which touched a 7-month low.
Murli Deora has expressed optimism over the IPI gas pipeline project, confirming that talks are on with both Iran and Pakistan to finalise the project.
The Companies Bill 2009, which will replace a half-a-century old Act, is expected to be brought before Parliament for consideration and passage in the ongoing Budget session.
Replaying to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Deora said there are some outstanding issues including finalization of the gas price with Iran.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora is seeking to give a big push to domestic oil and gas hunt through a slew of fiscal incentives including infrastructure status to exploration and production business and exemption from service tax.
The government on Monday ruled out any immediate increase in petrol and diesel prices despite a spurt in international crude oil prices.
The FIR by the ACB was registered a day after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the agency has been told to probe their alleged collusion over hike in prices of natural gas from KG basin.
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