Rift in Chickballapur and Kolar Congress units spills into the open

Internal differences within the Chickballapur and Kolar Congress leadership appear to be coming out in the open. Over the last four days, social media posts by Chickballapur Congress MLA Pradeep Eshwar on the killing of seven Dalits in Kambalapalli village in Chintamani (then part of undivided Kolar district) in 2000, and the alleged ban on Dalits entering temples in Chintamani, have raised eyebrows in political circles and embarrassed the party.

What began as a post on X by Mr. Eshwar on October 1 highlighting the alleged ban on Dalits entering temples in Chintamani was followed by another post on October 2 listing temples where Dalits were allegedly barred from entry. He also urged Dalits in the taluk to bring such instances to his notice.

Over the last two days, the issue has meandered into allegations against a “powerful” leader from Chintamani belonging to a “reputed family” in Bengaluru. Party sources indicated that Mr. Eshwar’s remarks were allegedly aimed at former Minister and Chintamani Congress MLA M.C. Sudhakar, with whom he is learnt to share a frosty relationship. In another post, he claimed that the Sri Rama temple at S. Raghuttahalli had remained shut for three years following a visit by Social Welfare Minister K.H. Muniyappa, a senior Dalit leader in the State.

In a post on Sunday, Mr. Eshwar said: “The court has awarded life imprisonment to 98 persons charged with injuring over 30 people after their houses were set on fire in Marukumbi village of Koppal district in 2014. However, it is strange that those facing charges of immolating seven persons in Kambalapalli have been acquitted. Family members and witnesses gave their statements in Telugu, and the direction of the case changed after the translator altered the statements. Who instigated the change? Who is that great leader from Chintamani? Who changed the translation? If it is investigated, everything will come out in the open.” In another post, he threatened to release documents relating to businesses allegedly owned by the leader in Hyderabad and Mumbai.

On Sunday, Dr. Sudhakar, who met Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, is learnt to have expressed his displeasure over the repeated attacks by his party colleague, who does not represent the Chintamani constituency.

Meanwhile, a group of Congress legislators from Kolar district, including H.Y. Nanjegowda, K.Y. Narayanswamy, S.N. Subbareddy and Kothanur Manjunath, also met the Chief Minister on Sunday to discuss internal differences within the Kolar Congress unit, allegedly arising from interference by KGF MLA Roopa Shashidhar, daughter of Social Welfare Minister K.H. Muniyappa. The posting of the managing director of the District Cooperative Central Bank (DCC Bank) and Ms. Roopa’s alleged interest in controlling its affairs are learnt to have irked the legislators. On his differences with Ms. Roopa, Mr. Narayanswamy said: “During a casual conversation with Mr. Subbareddy in the Assembly, she came and threatened me. We were not speaking about her.” He also said they met the Chief Minister after learning that a legislator was attempting to remove the managing director of the DCC Bank, and that they had tried to dissuade him from doing so.