India News | Verbal Clash Between BJP, Congress Leaders at Tumakuru Community Meet; V Somanna Walks out
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. A heated verbal exchange broke out between BJP and Congress-affiliated leaders during a breakfast meeting of Veerashaiva community leaders in Karnataka’s Tumakuru after political campaigning triggered objections. Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna reportedly halted his speech midway and walked out of the meeting following the confrontation.
Tumakuru (Karnataka) [India], October 16 (ANI): A heated verbal altercation broke out between BJP and Congress-affiliated leaders during a breakfast meeting of Veerashaiva-Lingayat community leaders at Murugharajendra Auditorium in Karnataka's Tumakuru, following objections to election campaigning at the gathering.
The meeting, convened by Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna, witnessed a tense exchange after political appeals were reportedly made in support of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate KM Suresh for the Karnataka Legislative Council's South-East Graduates' constituency.
According to reports, Shashi Hulikunte Math, district vice-president of the Veerashaiva Mahasabha and Congress candidate from the constituency, objected to political campaigning during the community gathering, saying that such an event was not an appropriate platform for soliciting votes.
During the meeting, Tumakuru City MLA Jyothi Ganesh and later Somanna reportedly appealed to those present to support Suresh in the upcoming Legislative Council election. Hulikunte Math's objection triggered a verbal exchange between leaders affiliated with the BJP and Congress.
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The disagreement escalated as some participants reportedly confronted Somanna over the appeals made in favour of the NDA candidate. The atmosphere at the venue turned tense, with leaders expressing opposing views over the use of a community meeting for election-related campaigning.
Somanna, who was addressing the gathering, halted his speech midway amid the confrontation and walked out of the venue.
According to a report, MLA Jyothi Ganesh and Tumakuru district BJP president Hebbala Ravishankar intervened in an attempt to ease tensions. The disagreement, however, brought the meeting to a disruption.
The incident comes ahead of the October 23 election to the Karnataka Legislative Council's South-East Graduates' constituency, in which BJP's K.M. Suresh is contesting as the NDA candidate against Congress nominee Shashi Hulikunte Math. The counting of votes is scheduled for October 27, according to the election schedule published by the Karnataka government.
The election has prompted campaigning and coordination efforts among BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) leaders, with the NDA seeking support for its candidates across the graduates' and teachers' constituencies.
Hulikunte Math has been campaigning across the South-East Graduates' constituency, seeking the support of registered graduate voters. The contest forms part of a wider set of Legislative Council elections in Karnataka, in which the BJP, Congress and JD(S) are seeking to strengthen their representation in the Upper House of the state legislature. (ANI)
(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)