Congress leaders fight for 'chairs' in Karnataka

CHIITRADURGA (BENGALURU): In major embarrassment, Congress leaders indulged in a spar over chairs on the stage at a meeting of party's office-bearers and observers. On Sunday, Minister for Social Welfare and District in-charge H Anjaneya asked the former MLA AV Umapathi and KPCC member B Tippeswamy to get off the stage during the meeting at the district stadium auditorium in Bangaluru's Chitradurga area. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee's vice-president R Krishnappa, general secretary RV Venkatesh, secretary Yogeshwari Vijay and Divya Gowda were also present at the time of incident.According to party sources, the spar started as soon as Anjaneya arrived at the venue and asked Umapathi and Tippeswamy to get off the stage. This didn't go well with the leaders.They also said that they held responsible positions in the party and deserve "chair" on the stage.The District Panchayat member Narasimharaju, and other senior party leader tried to convince Anjaneya.But, the Minister wasn't convinced and instructed to his supporters "to remove them if they did not do so."Following which, Umapathi and Tippeswamy boycotted the meeting and left the venue.Meanwhile, supporters of Umapathi and Tippeswamy raised slogans against the Minister and also tried to picket the Minister in protest against his action.Read this story in Kannada