Bengaluru
A meeting of Congress workers in Belur, Hassan district, turned chaotic as internal conflicts escalated, leading to physical altercations and the hurling of chairs among supporters. The incident occurred after former minister B Shivaram attributed his defeat in the recent Assembly elections to the lack of unity among party cadres. Shivaram had convened the meeting to discuss preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled for next year. During the gathering, he expressed his frustration over the perceived lack of unity among party workers, a sentiment that triggered a strong reaction from the supporters of Congress leader Rajashekhar, known as ‘Garnite.’ The situation quickly escalated into a heated exchange of words, followed by physical clashes and the throwing of chairs. Despite attempts by party leaders to control the situation, the conflict persisted, forcing several Congress leaders on the stage to leave the venue. The internal strife within the Congress party in Belur highlights the challenges of maintaining unity and cohesion, especially in the aftermath of electoral defeats. The incident occurred in the presence of Jattenahalli Ramachandra, a Congress ticket aspirant for the Lok Sabha polls in the Hassan constituency. Shivaram had contested the recent Assembly elections on a Congress ticket and lost to BJP candidate HK Suresh. The Congress, gearing up for the Lok Sabha elections, has called for unity and cooperation among its members, urging district units to submit lists of probable candidates within a week.
