Congress signals truce in Karnataka
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar sought to signal an end to their months-long power tussle with a publicly staged breakfast meeting at the CM’s residence on Saturday. The Congress high command had pushed for the meeting amid escalating tensions over an alleged rotational power-sharing promise, which resurfaced as the Government completed 2.5 years in office. Presenting a united front, both leaders denied any rift, said they would abide by the party leadership’s decision, and pledged to jointly lead the party into the 2028 Assembly elections. They also discussed strategies to counter a possible no-confidence motion threatened by the BJP. The Opposition, however, dismissed the display of unity as political theatre, questioning its durability. Shivakumar said the party would fight 2028 under Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, while Siddaramaiah insisted the Government and MLAs remained firmly together.
India Sets Up Colombo Helpdesk
Hundreds of Indian nationals were stranded at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport on Saturday as Cyclone Ditwah triggered severe flooding, landslides, and widespread flight disruptions across Sri Lanka. The Indian High Commission in Colombo quickly established an emergency help desk to provide stranded passengers with food, water, shelter and travel assistance. The cyclone, which damaged nearly 15,000 homes and forced over 44,000 people into shelters, left major access roads — particularly in districts like Kandy — impassable, preventing travelers from leaving the airport. India dispatched two aircraft carrying over 20 tonnes of relief supplies and National Disaster Response Force teams, who are supporting Sri Lankan authorities in rescue operations while assisting affected Indian citizens. Indian Navy assets, including INS Vikrant, have also been deployed for evacuation efforts. The High Commission said “Operation Sagar Bandhu” would continue aiding Sri Lanka and ensuring Indian nationals remain safe as the cyclone advances toward northern India.
