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Taking to X, Caleb Friesen shared a screenshot of a property listing for a 3BHK apartment in the city’s upscale Diamond District in Domlur.

Needless to say, housing in Bengaluru is extremely expensive, and finding a decent place to rent or buy can be a real challenge. Recently, a Canadian man living in India sparked a discussion online after expressing shock over the city’s rental norms, particularly the requirement of high security deposits. Taking to X, Caleb Friesen shared a screenshot of a property listing for a 3BHK apartment in the city’s upscale Diamond District in Domlur. The rent? Rs 1.75 lakh a month. But it was the security deposit, a staggering Rs 19.25 lakh, that left him baffled. 

“Rs 19 lakh for security deposit! absolutely bonkers what landlords are expecting these days, I could literally buy a new Mahindra Thar for less than this deposit. anyone know of a place in/around Indiranagar with 2-3 months deposit only? rent price range Rs. 80 to 1 lakh,” he wrote while sharing the picture of the property listing. 

“I’d say that you should be prepared to get your hopes quashed with your requirement. House renting is a mafia in this city,” wrote one user. 

“This is why some finfluencers say that buying houses is a waste of money. According to them paying high amounts as interest free security deposit is better than paying EMIs!” commented another. 

“I was thinking about moving to Bangalore after I left Chennai. But, after 1st round of interview with that office in based in Bangalore I checked properties around. All of them have sequrity diposit more than my salary. So, dropped idea of moving to Bangalore,” shared a third user. 

“So landlords are demanding a literal kidney’s worth of money for deposit. What a joke!!” expressed another. 

“Actually he is being nice here. It’s 10 times the rent in Bangalore. Which is 21 lacs. Crazy!” one user wrote. 

The post also prompted some hilarious responses. “Don’t buy a Thar. That’s for special folks only,” quipped one user. “Negotiable rent and non-negotiable deposit!” Jokingly said another. 

Nikhat Zareen opened her campaign with a clinical 4:1 win over Uttar Pradesh’s Rashi Sharma in the 48-51kg category on the opening day of the the Elite Women’s Boxing Tournament.

Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen opened her campaign with a clinical 4:1 win over Uttar Pradesh’s Rashi Sharma in the 48-51kg category on the opening day of the the Elite Women’s Boxing Tournament in Hyderabad on Saturday. Haryana’s Anjali scored an upset win over World Championships bronze medallist Manisha Moun in the 57-60 kg category at the Hyderabad’s Saroornagar Indoor Stadium. Other notable Day 1 results included a win for 2023 world champion Nitu (Haryana) in 45-48kg over Rajani Singh (UP) 5:0 while Telangana’s Yashi Sharma defeated K Monisha (Tamil Nadu) 5:0 in the 60-65kg category.

Another standout performer from the TOPS setup, Laxmi, posted a dominant 5:0 win in the 51-54kg bout against Ragini (UP).

The gold and silver medallists in each of the 10 weight categories will be selected for the elite national camp to be held in Patiala.

McLaren’s Lando Norris grabbed pole position for Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix after posting the fastest time in qualifying.

Lando Norris delivered a superb final flying lap in his McLaren on Saturday to end Max Verstappen’s run of domination in qualifying at the Red Bull Ring by claiming pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix. The 25-year-old Briton clocked an outstanding lap in one minute and 3.971 seconds to outpace nearest rival Charles Leclerc of Ferrari by 0.521 seconds, with McLaren team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri third. Norris, who is 22 points behind Piastri in the drivers’ title race, erased any hangover from his collision with Piastri in Canada two weeks ago with a thrilling demonstration of his speed and talent.

“It was a good lap, that’s for sure,” said Norris. “I guess that just little bit by little bit, I was able to get more time. Q1 was good, but I knew there were a few places I could get more time and I did what I planned to do.”

Verstappen had taken pole position at the Red Bull-owned circuit in the Styrian Alps for the last five F1 races before Norris succeeded and seized his first pole in Austria, his third of the season and 12th of his career.

Team-mate Piastri was disappointed and frustrated.

“I had (Pierre) Gasly spin at the first corner so I didn’t even open my second lap. Lando’s been very quick all weekend so it would have been a tough challenge, but we had the pace to be on the front row.

“We can still have a good race from there and we are not here to come home third.”

Verstappen’s last lap was stymied by a yellow flag waved when Gasly spun in his Alpine, leaving him, like Piastri, unable to clock a flying lap time. He finished seventh.

Leclerc said: “I’m very pleased. It’s been a long time since we started on the front row and it’s been a difficult season overall, but the team has kept pushing.

“We brought some new parts this weekend which for sure made a difference. We know we have a better car in the race than in qualifying so I hope we can put more pressure on the McLarens.”

Leclerc’s Ferrari team-mate and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was an encouraging fourth ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls, four-time champion Verstappen of Red Bull and Gabriel Bortoleto of Sauber.

Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli was ninth in the second Mercedes and Gasly 10th.

‘Worse than before’

The session began in hot conditions with temperatures of 32 (air) and 48 (track) indicating hard work for tyres.

After a frantic finale, in which Russell recovered from the drop zone to 11th, it was Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, Esteban Ocon of Haas, Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, Carlos Sainz in the second Williams and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg who were eliminated.

McLaren, led by Norris, set the pace.

The entire field was separated by less than a second with the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Tsunoda, sixth and 18th, only 0.25 seconds apart. It was Sainz’s third consecutive Q1 exit.

The track temperature touched 50 at the start of Q2 with Ferrari leading the way on used softs as Norris established his supremacy again before a trackside grass fire prompted a red flag stoppage, Hamilton having run wide there at turn 10.

Verstappen was unhappy with his car’s reaction to the heat. “No grip, it’s worse than before,” he reported. “I don’t know what to say!”

After six minutes, the action resumed with only four to go as Norris and Piastri set the pace ahead of Leclerc while two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, Williams’ Alex Albon, Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar, Franco Colapinto of Alpine and Oliver Bearman of Haas missed out.

All this left Bortoleto celebrating his first top ten qualification in fifth for the improving Sauber outfit while Verstappen complained he was impeded by a Ferrari in a way that was “a bit naughty and super unnecessary”.

As Q3 began, Russell almost hit a Ferrari when he was released into their path narrowly avoiding a collision.

On the first runs, Norris was fastest again ahead of Leclerc with Piastri third and Hamilton fourth, the Ferraris enjoying the heat as Mercedes wilted before Norris stormed to pole.

Shubhanshu Shukla described his journey to the ISS as not just a personal achievement but a symbolic leap for the entire country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station (ISS).

The nearly 18-minute dialogue between PM Modi and the 39-year-old Indian astronaut, who is the second Indian to go to space in 41 years and the first since Rakesh Sharma’s eight-day sojourn in 1984, was rich in emotion, science, and national pride.

Expressing the collective pride of 140 crore Indians, PM Modi told the Indian astronaut: “Today you are farthest from your motherland but you are closest to the hearts of Indians.”

He congratulated Mr Shukla on his successful mission and asked about his well-being.

Mr Shukla, visibly moved, responded with gratitude, affirming that he was safe and feeling well, crediting it to the blessings and support of the nation.

The astronaut described his journey to the ISS as not just a personal achievement but a symbolic leap for the entire country.

“This small journey from Earth to 400 kilometres above is not only mine – it is the journey of our country,” he said.

Reflecting on his childhood, he shared that he never imagined becoming an astronaut, but under the current leadership, India now offers such dreams a chance to become reality.

In a lighter moment, PM Modi asked if Mr Shukla had shared Indian food with his international colleagues. In response, Mr Shukla said he had brought carrot halwa, moong dal halwa, and mango juice, which were well received by his fellow astronauts.

“Everyone liked it very much,” he said, adding that they hoped to visit India one day to experience its culinary richness firsthand.

The conversation then turned philosophical as PM Modi remarked on the ancient Indian tradition of undertaking a “parikrama”, with Mr Shukla actually doing a circumambulation or orbiting the Earth.

The Prime Minister asked what part of the planet Mr Shukla was currently passing over.

Though the astronaut didn’t have the exact coordinates, he said a little while ago they had passed over Hawaii. He described the awe-inspiring experience of orbiting the Earth 16 times a day, witnessing as many sunrises and sunsets. Traveling at 28,000 kilometres per hour, he noted, adding with a tinge of national pride, suggesting “this speed shows how fast our country is moving forward”.

When asked about his first thoughts upon being in space, Mr Shukla shared a profound realisation: “From space, you don’t see any borders. The Earth looks united.” He emphasised the vastness of India, which appears much larger from orbit than on a map, and spoke of the deep sense of unity and shared humanity that space evokes.

“Jab pehli baar Bharat ko dekha, Bharat sach mein bohat bhavya dikta hain, jitna ham map pe dekhten hain, usse kahin jyada bada (When we saw India for the first time, we saw that India looks very grand, very big, much bigger than what we see on the map),” Mr Shukla told the Prime Minister, bringing back memories of Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s “saare jahan se achha Hindustan hamara” remark in 1984 when PM Indira Gandhi had asked him how India looks from space.

PM Modi then enquired about the challenges of adapting to life in microgravity. Mr Shukla explained that despite extensive training, the real experience was vastly different.

“Even small tasks become difficult,” he said, noting that he had to tie his feet to stay in place during the conversation. Sleeping, drinking water, and even moving around required new techniques. “It takes a day or two to get used to it,” he added. He showed how the microphone was floating away from him as he spoke.

The Prime Minister highlighted India’s unique blend of science and spirituality, asking whether mindfulness and meditation helped in space.

Mr Shukla affirmed that they played a crucial role in managing stress and making sound decisions. “The calmer you are, the better you can make decisions,” he said, advocating for the integration of mindfulness in high-stress environments like space missions.

On the scientific front, Mr Shukla proudly revealed that he was conducting seven Indian-designed experiments aboard the ISS. The first, scheduled for today, involved stem cells and aimed to understand muscle loss in microgravity – a study with potential applications for elderly care on Earth.

Another experiment focused on the growth of microalgae, which could contribute to food security due to their high nutritional value and rapid growth in space.

PM Modi praised the scientific ambition of the mission and noted how Chandrayaan’s success had already sparked a wave of interest in space among Indian youth. He said Mr Shukla’s journey would further fuel that passion.

Mr Shukla, in turn, encouraged young Indians to dream big and persevere. “There is no one way to success,” he said. “But one thing is common-never stop trying.”

As the conversation neared its end, PM Modi gave Mr Shukla some “homework”: to document his experiences for the benefit of future missions, including Gaganyaan, which is India’s upcoming human spaceflight program and the Bhartiya Antariksha Station and to send an Indian to the Moon.

Mr Shukla agreed, saying he was absorbing every lesson “like a sponge” and would apply them to accelerate India’s space ambitions.

In a deeply emotional closing, Mr Shukla reflected on the collective achievement of the mission. “This is not just my personal accomplishment-it is a collective achievement for our country,” he said.

He urged every child and youth to believe that “the sky is never the limit”. He also revealed that the Indian flag now proudly adorned the ISS, a moment that filled him with immense pride.

PM Modi ended the conversation by extending his best wishes to Mr Shukla and his team. “Take care of yourself. Keep increasing the respect for Mother India,” he said.

Mr Shukla responded with a heartfelt “Bharat Mata ki jai,” echoing the sentiment of a nation that now sees its dreams orbiting the Earth.

Stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana smashed her maiden T20 International hundred to power India to a commanding 210 for 5 against England.

Stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana smashed her maiden T20 International hundred to power India to a commanding 210 for 5 against England in the first match in Nottingham on Saturday. Mandhana (112, 62 balls) was aggression and confidence personified from the word go and she made up for the struggles of her opening partner Shafali Verma (20, 22 balls). Her knock is the highest for India in T20Is, surpassing Harmanpreet Kaur’s 103. Mandhana, who led the team in the absence of regular captain Harmanpreet, and Shafali milked 77 runs for the opening wicket off 8.3 overs as India raced off the block.

Shafali’s dismissal did not deter Mandhana as the left-hander raised a further 94 runs for the second wicket with an equally aggressive Harleen Deol (43, 23 balls), who was dropped on 26 by Danny Wyatt-Hodge off off-spinner Alice Capsey.

Mandhana did not give any such chances to England, and she started off with three boundaries off left-arm spinner Linsey Smith in the fourth over, and hardly took her foot off the accelerator.

Later, she also punished another left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone for two sixes in the seventh over as Indian innings chugged along.

At the other end, Deol relied more on sweeps to fetch boundaries, using the general lack of direction of English bowlers on the day till she fell to Lauren Bell.

Mandhana soon went past 87, her previous best in T20Is, and touched the three-figure mark for the first time in her career that has 31 fifties.

Mandhana, who eventually was dismissed by Ecclestone, reached the cherished mark with two successive boundaries off pacer Bell, who was England’s most successful bowler (3/27).

Bell removed Richa Ghosh (12) and Jemimah Rodrigues (0) in the 18th over to bring some temporary relief to the home side, but India had already reached a position of strength by then. 

Jagdeep Dhankhar’s remarks were made as part of a broader reflection on the constitutional changes during the Emergency, which he described as the “darkest period of Indian democracy”.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday delivered a poignant critique of the changes made to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution during the Emergency period in 1975, describing it as a betrayal of the document’s “Soul” and the vision of its framers.

Speaking at an event at the Vice-President’s Enclave, marking the presentation of the first copy of ‘Ambedkar’s Messages’ compiled by author and former Karnataka MLC DS Veeraiah, Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasised that a preamble of a constitution was “not changeable” or “not alterbale” as was the base on which the constitution would grow.

He claimed that, except for India, no other Preamble of any other constitution has undergone any change, referring to the changes made by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976, adding the words “socialist, secular and integrity”.

“Preamble of any constitution is its soul. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is unique… Except Bharat, [no other] Constitution’s Preamble has undergone change and why? Preamble is not changeable. Preamble is not alterable. Preamble is the basis on which the constitution has grown. Preamble is the seed of the Constitution. It is soul of the constitution, but this Preamble for Bharat was changed by 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976, adding words Socialist, Secular and Integrity,” the Vice President stated.

Jagdeep Dhankhar’s remarks were made as part of a broader reflection on the constitutional changes during the Emergency, which he described as the “darkest period of Indian democracy”.

He recounted the suspension of fundamental rights and the imprisonment of political leaders and citizens, questioning the legitimacy of altering the Preamble under such circumstances.

“During the Emergency, the darkest period of Indian democracy, when people were behind the bars, fundamental rights were suspended. In the name of those — we the people — who were enslaved, we just go for what? Just a flourish of words? It is to be deprecated beyond words,” Dhankar stated, drawing on the landmark Kesavananda Bharati case of 1973, where Justice HR Khanna had affirmed the Preamble’s role as a guide to constitutional interpretation, quoting Justice Khanna, “The Preamble serves as a guide to the interpretation of the Constitution and indicates the source from which the Constitution derives its authority — namely, the people of India.”

The Vice-President expressed deep concern over the timing and nature of the changes, arguing that they were made when “We the People were bleeding in heart, in soul — they were in darkness.”

He criticised the addition of the words “Socialist”, “Secular”, and “Integrity” during the Emergency as a “Nasoor (festering wound)” that could create upheaval and signal a betrayal of the framers’ mindset, underscoring the sacrilege to the spirit of Sanatana and the civilisational ethos of India.

“We are changing the soul of the Constitution. We are, as a matter of fact, by this flash of words, added during the darkest period of Emergency — the darkest period for the Constitution of the country. And in the process, if you deeply reflect, we are giving wings to existential challenges. These words have been added as Nasoor (festering wound). These words will create upheaval. Addition of these words in the Preamble during the Emergency signals betrayal of the mindset of the framers of the Constitution. It is nothing but belittling the civilisational wealth and knowledge of this country for thousands of years. It is sacrilege to the spirit of Sanatana,” Dhankhar said.

Dhankhar also highlighted the contemporary relevance of BR Ambedkar’s messages, urging that they be honoured and respected by Parliamentarians and policymakers.

“Dr. BR Ambedkar lives in our hearts. He dominates our mind and touches our soul… Ambedkar’s messages bear huge contemporaneous relevance for us. His messages need to permeate down the line, up to the family level. The children must come to know about these messages,” he said, calling for a reflection on why “temples of democracy” are being “sacrileged” and “ravaged by disruption.”

Recalling judicial perspectives, Dhankhar cited Justices Hidayatullah, Hegde, Mukherjee, Shelat, and Grover from the IC Golaknath versus State of Punjab case, who viewed the Preamble as unalterable and embodying the Constitution’s fundamental values.

He contrasted this with the casual alteration during the Emergency, deeming it an “earthquake” to the constitutional foundation.

“The Preamble to our Constitution contains in a nutshell its ideals and aspirations. It is not a mere flourish of words but embodies the objectives which the Constitution seeks to achieve,” the Vice-President quoted Justice Hidayatullah, emphasising the gravity of the change.

Dhankhar concluded by invoking Ambedkar’s final address to the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949, urging the nation to prioritise country over creed.

“I do not want that our loyalty as Indians should in the slightest way affected by our competitive loyalty, whether that loyalty arises out of our religion, out of our culture or out of our language. I want all people to be Indian first, Indian last and nothing else but Indians,” Ambedkar had said, a message Dhankhar urged should be framed and read daily.

He warned of the risks of placing creed above country, echoing Ambedkar’s anxiety about India’s independence being jeopardised again.

“This anxiety is deepened by the realization of the fact that in addition to our old enemies in the form of castes and creeds, we are going to have many political parties with diverse and opposing political creeds. Will Indians place the country above their creed? Or will they place creed above the country… I do not know, but this much is certain that if the parties place creed above country, our independence will be put in jeopardy a second time and probably be lost forever,” Dhankar stated as quoted by Ambedkar.

The CBDT is the apex policymaking body of the Income Tax Department, and its chairman and members are senior Indian Revenue Service officers.

The government has extended the tenure of Ravi Agrawal as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) by another year. The CBDT is the apex policymaking body of the Income Tax Department, and its chairman and members are senior Indian Revenue Service officers.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved re-appointment of Ravi Agrawal, IRS as Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes on contract basis, for a period of one year with effect from July 1, 2025 till June 30, 2026 or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” the government order stated.

The re-appointment will be on the usual terms and conditions applicable to re-employed Central government officers, in relaxation of the Recruitment Rules.

Agarwal, a 1988 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer from the income tax cadre, had succeeded Nitin Gupta, 1986 batch IRS officer, in June 2024 as Chairman of the CBDT. He was serving as a member of the CBDT (Administration) from July 2023 before his appointment as chairman.

The CBDT is headed by a chairman and can have six members who are in the rank of special secretary.

Meanwhile, CBDT has asked all the principal chief commissioners of Income Tax to exercise effective supervision over their assessing officers and make sure that questions sent by them to a taxpayer are justified, and that irrelevant queries are completely avoided.

The apex body has directed Income Tax Department officials to ensure due application of mind while issuing notices for scrutiny and assessment of a taxpayer’s return, emphasising that all queries should be relevant and specific.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman earlier this week asked income-tax officials to ensure that tax compliance processes are made simpler, more transparent and taxpayer-friendly.

The Finance Minister also directed all principal chief commissioners of income tax to prioritise and accelerate the disposal of disputed tax demands that are currently pending before the faceless appellate authorities, the finance ministry said in a statement.

About 577,000 appeals were pending at the start of the current fiscal year. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is targeting to address more than 225,000 appeals in FY 2025-26 involving over Rs 10 lakh crore of disputed demand.

The Finance Minister highlighted that prompt and time-bound disposal of taxpayer grievances is essential for ensuring responsive governance.

On the day of the crime, Sumangala allegedly threw chili powder into her husband’s eyes, beat him with a club, and then pressed her foot against his neck to kill him brutally, said the police.

A woman, along with her lover, allegedly killed her husband and disposed of his body nearly 30 kilometers away to cover up the crime, in a chilling case of betrayal and murder from Karnataka.

The incident, which took place on June 24, was reported from Kadashettihalli village of Tiptur taluk in Tumakuru district.

The victim, 50-year-old Shankaramurthy, was reportedly living alone in a farmhouse.

His wife Sumangala, who worked as a cook at Kalpataru Girls’ Hostel in Tiptur, was allegedly in an illicit relationship with Nagaraju, a resident of Karadalusante village.

The wife and her lover allegedly conspired to eliminate Shankaramurthy, who they felt was coming in the way of their relationship.

On the day of the crime, Sumangala allegedly threw chili powder into her husband’s eyes, beat him with a club, and then pressed her foot against his neck to kill him brutally, said the police.

After the murder, they placed the body in a gunny sack and transported it nearly 30 km, said the cops. They then dumped the body into a well in a farm located under the jurisdiction of Dandanishivara police station in Turuvekere taluk, the cops added.

The case was initially of a missing person complaint registered at Nonavinakere Police Station. However, during the search operation, police found traces of chilli powder and signs of a struggle on the victim’s bed, which raised suspicions.

On further investigation and interrogation of Sumangala, coupled with analysis of her mobile Call Detail Records, the police unraveled the murder plot. She eventually confessed to the crime.

A case has been registered at Nonavinakere police station, and further investigations are underway.

The big cats were found dead on Thursday, and subsequent investigation revealed they were poisoned.

The death of a tigress and her four cubs in this district has turned out to be a case of apparent revenge by a man whose cow was preyed upon by wild animals, Forest authorities said on Saturday.

Three people, including the owner of the dead cow sprayed upon with poison and consumed by the wild cats, were arrested on Saturday in connection with the incident that happened in the Hugyam forest range of Male Mahadeshwara Hills, police said.

The big cats were found dead on Thursday, and subsequent investigation revealed they were poisoned. The incidenr had created a furore in the state.

The breakthrough came after the carcass of a poisoned cow belonging to Maada alias Maaduraju was found.

According to Forest officials, Maaduraju was reportedly enraged after his cow named ‘Kenchi’ was killed upon by wild animals.

To avenge the loss, he sprayed poison on the cow’s carcass. His friends Konappa and Nagaraju too were allegedly part of the conspiracy.

The tigress, which had initially feasted on the dead cow, later returned with her cubs to feed on it again and died after ingesting the poison, Forest sources said.

All three suspects have been taken to Meenyam-based ‘Aranya Bhavan’ in Hanuru Taluk for further interrogation.

During the investigation, Maaduraju’s father Shivanna approached the police claiming that he was responsible for the death of the big cats.

However, he was let off after the investigation revealed his son’s alleged involvement.

The incident had triggered widespread public outrage and political blame games, with the opposition BJP accusing the government of “negligence” in protecting wildlife.

While Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had indicated action after receiving a report on the matter, State Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre had said no one will be spared.

According to the latest report of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Karnataka has 563 tigers, the second highest in the country after Madhya Pradesh.

Junior Siddaramaiah’s statement comes amid repeated comments from Congress MLAs and ministers hinting at a political churn towards the end of the year.

Amid mounting speculation over a potential leadership change in Karnataka, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has strongly dismissed the rumours, asserting that his father has the full backing of both the party high command and legislators.

He, a Member of the Legislative Council, underlined that his father will complete his five-year term as Chief Minister.

Junior Siddaramaiah’s statement comes amid repeated comments from Congress MLAs and ministers hinting at a political churn towards the end of the year.

Minister KN Rajanna’s recent statement has fuelled most of the speculation.

“Between 2013 and 2018, there was just one power centre. Now there are one, two, three, several power centres. When power centres increase, the issues also increase. Most people have an opinion that they are not seeing the Siddaramaiah of 2013. Let September pass, then we will talk about all this,” said Mr Rajanna.

Adding to the speculation, Congress MLA Pradeep Eshwar, speaking during a Kempegowda Jayanti event on Friday, offered glowing praise for DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah’s Deputy, “As I end my speech, I want to remember DK Shivakumar, the leader whom I trust and dream of. I wish that his future is bright, and he takes one more step forward in his political career.”

Yathindra Siddaramaiah’s remarks are the most definitive rebuttal yet from the Siddaramaiah camp.

“Repeated statements are being made because there are certain factions that want to become CM, so they keep trying to spread rumours,” he said.

“But from the time the government was formed, Siddaramaiah has had the support of the high command and will continue to do so. The legislators also support Siddaramaiah. Therefore, he will continue for five years. The high command has never said they will change the CM or given any hints in this regard,” he added.

Asked about Mr Rajanna’s comments, the Chief Minister’s son said, “Only the minister can explain the context of his statement.”

He noted that such rumours have been circulating since the formation of the government.

“From the beginning, there had been talk that Siddaramaiah would be removed within six months. Later, it was said he would be replaced after the MUDA case came to light – but nothing of the sort has happened,” he said.

As Karnataka continues to witness a tug-of-war between factions backing Siddaramaiah and those supporting DK Shivakumar, the political spotlight now turns to September, the month increasingly being seen as a possible turning point.