Mangaluru: Heated exchange between leaders at Congress office

The altercation reportedly took place between District Congress President Harish Kumar and Bantwal Congress leader Tumbe Chandraprakash Shetty in the presence of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Working President Manjunath Bhandari and former minister B Ramanath Rai.

What Happened?

The meeting was convened to discuss preparations for the upcoming Zilla Panchayat and Taluk Panchayat elections, the felicitation of newly elected Congress-supported Gram Panchayat members, and the construction of a new Congress office building.

Due to time constraints, senior leaders K Jayaprakash Hegde and B Ramanath Rai, who were scheduled to travel to Bengaluru, requested an expedited program. Harish Kumar suggested felicitating the new members by having them stand on the stage instead of the traditional seated ceremony.

Chandraprakash Shetty opposed this, insisting that the felicitation should be conducted properly. This disagreement escalated into a verbal spat and reportedly led to a physical scuffle, disrupting the meeting.

Resolution and Reactions

The situation was eventually brought under control by Manjunath Bhandari, who mediated discussions and pacified the leaders and workers.

Later, speaking to reporters, Chandraprakash Shetty expressed dissatisfaction with Harish Kumar’s leadership and called for his replacement, stating that such a change was necessary to save the party in the district. He clarified that no one was assaulted and that the matter had been resolved amicably.

Harish Kumar, addressing the incident, stated that the disagreement was an internal issue and had been settled to maintain unity. He emphasized that such incidents should not happen and assured that the party was united. Reports suggest that state leaders have been informed about the developments.