Scuffle breaks out among Congress leaders at felicitation program in Dakshina Kannada

Mangaluru: A scuffle reportedly broke out among Congress leaders during a felicitation programme organised for newly elected Gram Panchayat members at the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee (DCC) Office in Mangaluru on Monday.

It is said that an argument erupted between District Congress Committee President Harish Kumar and former Zilla Panchayat member Prakash Chandra Shetty over honouring the winners of the recently held Gram Panchayat by-elections. The verbal spat allegedly escalated into a physical altercation, said sources.

However, refuting the allegations, DK DCC President Harish Kumar said “there was heated exchange of words among leaders over a trivial issue. Nothing major and all has been sorted out among ourselves. There was no assault and exchange of blows as alleged in social media,” he told DH.

He said a meeting was convened to discuss upcoming MCC elections with the corporators, candidates who unsuccessfully contested assembly elections and Block Congress presidents. Later, KPCC Working President Manjunath Bhandari had convened a meeting to discuss constructing own building for the Block Congress Committees in DK and Udupi districts as directed by the KPCC President.

During the meeting, a programme to felicitate Congress supported candidates who won the recently held Gram Panchayat by- elections were held. During the felicitation, there was an exchange of words on honouring the elected candidates on the stage. As Congress leader Ramanath Rai had to rush to the airport, the programme was held in hurry. Later, all the elected members were given due respect by honouring them. Out of 31 seats, the Congress supported candidates had won 24 seats in Dakshina Kannada.”

Prakash Chandra Shetty told mediapersons that there are no differences of opinion and all issues have been sorted out. When asked by many expressing displeasure over the functioning of the DCC President, Shetty openly said, "it would be better for the Congress, if high command changes the president in DK district."

KPCC working President Manjunath Bhandari too refuted the allegation on exchange of blows among the leaders.

To a query on demand for change in DCC President, Bhandari said that the KPCC will decide on it. In fact, KPCC has sought a report on change in DCC and Block Presidents across the state and not only in the DK district.

Congress leader Mithun Rai said that there is no dissatisfaction among Congress leaders. All are united. “There was only discussion on strengthening the party at the booth level where a few had spoken in raised voices.”