Members come to blows at Chalavadi Mahasabha meeting

Dr Ambedkar Bhavan in Hassan resembled a battleground after a heated exchange of words and fisticuffs between the two factions of Chalavadi Mahasabha, during its meeting here, on Sunday. However, police intervened and brought the situation under control.

The rift between two factions of the mahasabha came to the fore when members of one faction demanded the resignation of the president Kumar, which led to angry exchange of words.

The annual meeting of the mahasabha was being held at Ambedkar Bhavan, when a group supporting founder president K Shivaram interrupted. They demanded Kumar’s resignation and appointment of Shivaram as the president again. The members of both the groups started blaming each other and it soon turned into a scuffle. About 100 personnel of the Karnataka State Reserve Police, deputy superintendent of police and sub-inspector had to struggle to bring the situation under control. Shivaram tried to pacify his supporters, requesting them to maintain peace, but in vain.

Speaking on the occasion, Shivaram alleged that Kumar had neglected the uplift of the community. “I had kept quiet so far, as highlighting the issues may mar the reputation of the organisation. A proposal has been submitted to the sub-registrar to conduct an election. There are 2,800 members across the state, but Kumar has not tried to maintain good relationship with them,” Shivaram complained.

He alleged that Rs five crore and two acres of land earmarked for construction of a bhavan, released during the tenure of B S Yeddyurappa as chief minister, had been misused by Kumar.

The sub-registrar has directed conduct of polls in the next 90 days. Shivaram said he would appeal again to conduct the polls as soon as possible.