Daijiworld Media Network - Shimoga (SP)

Shimoga, Apr 24: Congress Party MLA Sangameshwar from Bhadravati, with the help of his supporters, ransacked furniture, threw stones and forced an election meeting organized by his own party Lok Sabha candidate S Bangarappa to be cancelled midway through.
Sangameshwar alleged that he has always been looked upon with derision by Bangarappa. He grew angry after he was not offered any seat at the dais of the programme and was cold-shouldered on arrival. He went back in a huff and returned with several of his supporters, who threw stones, ransacked furniture and disrupted proceedings at the meeting. Before abandoning the meeting, Bangarappa announced that MLA Sagameshwar was responsible for the problems. Reiterating that he was unmoved by such acts, he expressed the belief, that he has the blessings of the voters of the constituency.

Sangameshwar ridiculed Bangarappa by saying that the ex-MP and ex-Chief Minister suddenly remembered about the Congress Party, after hurling dirty abuses at every leader of the Congress Party till about six months ago, just because election is round the corner. "Bangarappa's contribution to the constituency has been a big zero. Several times he was approached relating to sorting out problems of Vishweshwaraiah Iron and Steel factory in Bhadravati, but to no avail," he charged.

Sangameshwar informed that he had written to the High Command about the unacceptable behaviour of the ex-Chief Minister four days ago. "I will remain neutral in this election. The candidate put by the party behaves arrogantly and rudely and treats and talks to me with disrespect. Even before the commencement of the meeting, he behaved with me badly and did not allow me to occupy the seat next to him. This is an insult to the people of my constituency," he fumed.

After the meeting was disrupted, Madhu Bangarappa, Kagodu Timmappa, Kariyanna and other Congress leaders declared the meeting as concluded and left under security cover.