Congress MLA from K R Puram Byrathi Basavaraj and a traffic constable on duty had a heated exchange of words on Friday afternoon.

According to the sources, a tipper lorry had toppled near Jeevanahalli junction, causing a gridlock around 3.30 pm. Pulikeshinagar traffic police officers rushed there to streamline traffic.

Constable Bheema Naik Lamani was on duty guiding road users. The MLA’s car was also stuck in the jam. Basavaraj did not realise the reason for the slow movement of vehicles.

He got down from the car, approached Lamani and blasted him for the mess on the road and reportedly shouted that traffic policing had gone to dogs.

An irked Lamani shouted back at the legislator, without knowing that he was an MLA. He asked Basavaraj to mind his language.

A furious Basavaraj raised his voice, asking Lamani how dare he, a constable, talked to an MLA in such a manner.

He then raised his hands to slap the constable, but stopped short of it as his associates calmed him.

On realising that he was an MLA, the constable apologised and explained the reason for the gridlock, police sources said.