At a time when rest of India is reeling under the pressure of soaring prices of petrol and diesel, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has on Monday announced his coalition government's decision to cut petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2 per litre.

"Today, this coalition government has decided to reduce both petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2 per litre," CM Kumaraswamy said.

Following the decision, Karnataka joins the governments of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal who recently slashed taxes on fuel prices.

The announcement comes in the wake of political pressure building against Kumaraswamy following the price cut in these three states.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has cut taxes on fuel by Rs 2 while West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by has slashed prices by Rs 1.

At present, fuel prices are the highest in Maharashtra and the lowest in Andaman and Nicobar. Petrol prices crossed Rs. 90 in at least 11 towns in Maharashtra today