Mangaluru: Even as celebrations broke out in constituencies whose legislators found a place in the expanded Karnataka Cabinet, disappointment and anger spilled onto the streets in several other districts where senior Congress leaders were overlooked.
A protest was witnessed in Sindhanur of Raichur district, where supporters of five-time Congress MLA Hampanagouda Badarli erupted in protest after his name was missing from the final list of ministers. In a dramatic turn, a supporter allegedly poured petrol on himself. However, fellow supporters intervened in time, snatched away the petrol bottle and prevented any tragedy.
The protesters later blocked a road and raised slogans against the party leadership, alleging that Badarli had been repeatedly denied a Cabinet berth despite winning five Assembly elections. They claimed that he had earlier sacrificed his ministerial aspirations during the Siddaramaiah government because of political compulsions, only to be ignored once again. Police intervened and brought the situation under control.
A similar scene unfolded in Koppal, where supporters of three-time Congress MLA Raghavendra Hitnal staged a protest after he too failed to secure a ministerial berth. Gathering at Ashoka Circle, the protesters raised slogans against senior party leaders and the state government, accusing the party of ignoring a senior legislator despite his experience and electoral record.
The agitating workers set tyres on fire and briefly disrupted traffic before police dispersed them. They demanded that the Congress leadership reconsider its decision and ensure adequate representation to Koppal district in the ministry.
Discontent was also visible in Hubballi, where supporters of MLA Prasad Abbayya expressed disappointment over his exclusion from the Cabinet. Members of the Prasad Abbayya Abhimani Balaga assembled at Indi Pump Circle in Old Hubballi, alleging that despite being elected to the Assembly three times and serving effectively as Chairman of the Karnataka Slum Development Board during the Siddaramaiah government, Abbayya had once again been overlooked. The protesters also set tyres ablaze and demanded that he be accommodated in the ministry.
In Belagavi district, supporters of former minister Laxmi Hebbalkar staged demonstrations at Hirebagewadi Toll Plaza and at Chennamma Circle in Belagavi after her name was omitted from the Cabinet list. The protest briefly disrupted traffic, while demonstrators warned that the agitation would continue until the party leadership addressed their demand. Hebbalkar had served as Minister for Women and Child Development in the previous Siddaramaiah government.
Although Bhatkal MLA Mankal Vaidya’s name figured in the initial list doing the rounds, it was missing from the final list of ministers. Despite the disappointment, his supporters refrained from staging protests following his instructions. Sources said Vaidya had directed his supporters not to hold demonstrations or issue any public statements on the matter.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
