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Karnataka: Subba Reddy supporters rampage over Cabinet exclusion
In the Indian state of Karnataka, there is a big argument inside the ruling Congress party.
The leader of the state, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, chose 19 new ministers for his team.
One lawmaker, S N Subba Reddy, was not chosen, even though he is popular in his area.
His supporters were very upset, so they organized a protest called a bandh.
During a bandh, shops close and people stay home.
The protesters blocked roads with tractors, buses and cars and burned tires.
They also stopped state buses from running and made tea shops close.
One man tried to pour petrol on himself to light himself on fire, but police stopped him in time.
Many other lawmakers felt they were treated unfairly too.
The Chief Minister said the party is more important than any one person, and if they resign, their resignations will be accepted.
Supporters of Bagepalli Congress MLA S N Subba Reddy enforced a dawn-to-dusk bandh in Bagepalli, Chelur and Gudibande taluks of Chikkaballapura district.
Protesters burned tyres, stopped KSRTC buses, and blocked roads with tractors, buses and cars to demand a ministerial berth for the three-time MLA.
A supporter identified as Ambarish allegedly attempted self-immolation in Gudibande; police seized the petrol can and took him into custody.
More than 22 Congress MLAs and their supporters expressed resentment over being denied ministerial berths in the Cabinet expansion, with some threatening to resign.
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who inducted 19 ministers on Monday, warned disgruntled MLAs that the party is important and resignations would be accepted within minutes.
- Who
- Supporters of Bagepalli Congress MLA S N Subba Reddy, alongside more than 22 disgruntled Congress MLAs and Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
- What
- Supporters enforced a dawn-to-dusk bandh with tyre burning, road blockades, stopped KSRTC buses and forced shop closures to protest Reddy's exclusion from the Karnataka Cabinet.
- Where
- Bagepalli, Chelur and Gudibande taluks of Chikkaballapura district, Karnataka, with protests spilling across the state.
- When
- Wednesday, August 5, following the Cabinet expansion on Monday and Shivakumar's warning on Tuesday.
- Why
- Subba Reddy was denied a ministerial berth in the Cabinet expansion, and many MLAs resented the selection process.
Aggrieved MLAs and their supporters
Congress leadership
Cabinet exclusion
Aggrieved MLAs and their supporters
Excluded MLAs like Subba Reddy say they have 'not received justice' in the Congress government and demand ministerial berths through protests and threats to resign.
Congress leadership
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar says the party is important and that resignations from disgruntled MLAs would be accepted within a few minutes, signalling no tolerance for pressure.
Enforcement of the bandh
Aggrieved MLAs and their supporters
A Congress leader claimed the bandh was voluntarily observed by the people of Bagepalli, Chelur and Gudibande in the hope that something good happens for their MLA.
Congress leadership
Police and workers reported that protesters forcibly shut tea shops and other business establishments while enforcing the bandh, leading to arguments with authorities.
Key facts
- Event
- Dawn-to-dusk bandh and rampage over Cabinet exclusion
- Affected MLA
- S N Subba Reddy, three-time Congress MLA from Bagepalli
- Location
- Bagepalli, Chelur, Gudibande taluks, Chikkaballapura district, Karnataka
- Chief Minister
- D K Shivakumar
- Ministers inducted
- 19
- Disgruntled MLAs
- More than 22
- Attempted self-immolation
- Ambarish in Gudibande, prevented by police
- Timeline
- Cabinet expansion Monday; CM warning Tuesday; protest Wednesday
Quotes
A Congress leader supporting S N Subba Reddy
Congress party supporter of MLA S N Subba Reddy
“We have not received justice in the Congress government in Karnataka. That is why the people of Bagepalli, Chelur and Gudibande have voluntarily observed this bandh. They are doing this in the hope that something good will happen for our MLA in the coming days.”
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Sources
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