Kolar, Apr 1 (DHNS): The Congress party meeting to seek the party workers' feedback on the party's official candidate for the Kolar Assembly segment turned violent on Saturday as workers of two factions locked horns with each other.

The police resorted to lathi charge and controlled the situation.

A section of the party workers gheraoed MP K H Muniyappa when he arrived for the meeting, charging that he was taking unilateral decision regarding finalising the party's official candidate.

MP K H Muniyappa being gheraoed  by section of party workers

They alleged that the MP had been working hand in glove with Independent MLA Varthur Prakash which resulted in the defeat of the party's official candidates in the past.

They demanded that the meeting be held in the presence of Health Minister Ramesh Kumar, and former legislator V R Sudarshan, Naseer Ahmed and Nissar Ahmed.

Muniyappa's supporters retaliated when he was prevented from going on to the dais. Members of the two factions engaged in manhandling forcing the police to use batons.

Muniyappa, guarded by his supporters, went on the stage.

He clarified at the meeting: "Allegations against me are are baseless. Let those making allegations come to a masjid, touch the Quran to swear that the charges are genuine."

"I've vowed to defeat Prakash," he said.

"The high command will finalise the official candidate out of eight aspirants. The meeting has been convened not to finalise the candidate, but to strengthen the party," he said and called upon the workers to bring back the workers who have joined Varthur Prakash's Namma Congress Party.