While the furore over minister Savadi's interest in pornographic videos in the Assembly continued to rock Karnataka, the people of Athani constituency were virtually left in the dark about it as newspapers did not reach them Wednesday morning and power cuts made it impossible for them to view television either.

To make doubly sure that the minister's image remained untarnished in the constituency, the local television cable network too was suspended.

All newspapers brought to Athani from Hubli were allegedly seized by his supporters in Gokak Wednesday morning, forcing the vehicles to reach the town sans their usual bundles.

"Mr Savadi is a popular figure in Athani. His supporters are making sure that the present scandal does not reach the people by arranging to stop the supply of newspapers in the town and blanking out their television sets,'' said sources.

Chief of the NGO Vimochana, B L Patil, revealed power supply was cut off in Athani town for five hours from 7 pm onwards on Tuesday, making it impossible for people to watch television.

"I wanted to know what Mr Savadi had done in the Assembly, but when the power supply resumed, arrangements were made to suspend the local cable network. And when I woke up this morning, I was shocked to know that not a single newspaper was available in Athani town, " he said.

Meanwhile a mammoth rally was taken out by supporters of the Congress and JDS , who had given a call for an Athani bandh on Wednesday, condeming Mr Savadi's behaviour in the Assembly. The agitators also staged a two-hour dharna in front of the tahsildar's office. Most business establishments downed their shutters and vehicles stayed off the roads.

Former MLA of Athani, Shahjahan Dongargaon of the Congress, who led the agitation against the minister, demanded his immediate suspension, saying he had shamed the people of the constituency by his behaviour.