Thiruvananthapuram: On Thursday, legislators from the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) rode their bicycles into the Assembly to express their displeasure with the Pinarayi Vijayan government's refusal to reduce taxes on petroleum products. "Fuel prices have been a source of contention for both the federal government and the state. We have been pleading with the state government to help the people for a long time. We will continue to demonstrate against the state government's callous behaviour "V.D. Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition, led the cyclists.

Following the Centre's reduction, the price of petrol per litre fell by Rs 12.27, while the price of diesel fell by Rs 6.30, bringing the average price of one litre petrol in the state to Rs 103.80 and diesel to Rs 91.59, while the state's portion in the tax component was reduced in neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The 'Diwali gift' from the centre arrived on November 4, but Kerala Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal ruled out any further tax cuts. He claimed that the Centre had raised taxes, while the state government had never done so, and thus Kerala was not obligated to lower them.

Fuel excise tax reductions are positive to inflation control: RBI Governor

Ashok Gehlot govt likely to reduce VAT on petrol, diesel

Crude oil prices increased, know today's petrol-diesel prices