YADAGIR: With Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's Grama Vaastavya programme at Chandriki village turning into a JD(S) function, the infighting between the coalition partners came to the fore.
Mr Kumaraswamy, his ministerial colleague Bandeppa Kashempur and Minister for Social Welfare Priyank Kharge had to intervene when Minister for Mines and Geology and Congress leader Rajashekhar Patil entering into a wordy duel with Gurmitkal JD(S) MLA Nagangouda Kandakur and his son Sharangouda Patil at the function.
With all roads from Yadagir town to Chandriki village where Mr Kumarswamy held the programme, having only pictures of Mr Kumaraswamy and Mr Kandakur and no Congress flags or banners visible, Mr Patil, who is the district incharge minister, was annoyed. When he started his welcome address at the inaugural function, Mr Sharangouda with his some supporters, took objection wondering why Mr Patil was allowed to speak when he had shown little interest in organising the programme. At this stage, some supporters of Mr Sharangouda demanded that he be allowed to sit on the dais to which Mr Patil objected.
Taking offence to the 'insult' to his son by Mr Patil, Mr Kandakur tried to walk out of the dais. This prompted an angry Mr Patil to abrupty stop his speech midway. A visibly annoyed Mr Kumaraswamy got up from his seat and went to Mr Sharangouda to stop the ugly scene. Although Mr Patil resumed his welcome speech, it was evident from his tone that he was not happy. In the morning Mr Patil reportedly expressed his displeasure at the total neglect of Congress leaders in all banners, posters and flexes. Not even a single poster with his photo, that of Dy CM G Parameshwar or senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge was put up in the town or at Chandriki.
