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The reduction comes into effect from today (Sept 18) following a cut in the state cess, the chief minister’s office said in a tweet after Kumaraswamy announced the decision at an event in Kalaburagi in north Karnataka.
“Today, this coalition government has decided to reduce both petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2 per litre,” Kumaraswamy, who heads a JD(S)-Congress government, said at the event.
The sales tax on petrol and diesel has been reduced by 3.25 per cent and 3.27 per cent, respectively, the CMO said, adding that presently it is 32 per cent and 21 per cent.
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However, the average price of petrol and diesel in Karnataka is Rs 84.80 and Rs 76.21 per litre, respectively.
The announcement comes in the wake of political pressure building against Kumaraswamy after Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal governments reduced fuel prices.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has cut taxes on fuel by Rs 2 and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by Re 1.
In a move that came in for sharp attack from the opposition, Kumaraswamy had proposed increase in the rate of tax on petrol and diesel by Rs 1.14 and Rs 1.12 per litre respectively, in the state budget.
The rising fuel prices have created a political storm with the Opposition launching a scathing attack against the Narendra Modi government, which has cited international factors for it.
Fuel prices are the steepest in Maharashtra and the lowest in Andaman and Nicobar.