Public accusations expose tensions in Congress units across Kolar region

Internal differences within Congress units in Karnataka’s Chickballapur and Kolar districts have surfaced through public allegations, social media posts and meetings with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Chickballapur MLA Pradeep Eshwar began posting on X on October 1 about an alleged ban on Dalits entering temples in Chintamani.

The following day, he listed temples where Dalits were allegedly denied entry and asked people in the taluk to report similar cases. His subsequent posts referred to a “powerful” leader from Chintamani belonging to a reputed Bengaluru family. Party sources said the remarks were directed at former Minister and Chintamani Congress MLA M.C.

Sudhakar, with whom Eshwar is believed to have a strained relationship. Eshwar also claimed that the Sri Rama temple at S. Raghuttahalli had remained closed for three years after a visit by Social Welfare Minister K.H.

Muniyappa. In another post, Eshwar questioned the acquittal of people accused in the 2000 killing of seven Dalits in Kambalapalli village. He alleged that witness statements in Telugu had been altered during translation and asked who had influenced the case.

He also threatened to release documents concerning businesses allegedly owned by the leader in Hyderabad and Mumbai. Sudhakar met Chief Minister Shivakumar on Sunday and is understood to have expressed displeasure over the repeated attacks. Separately, Congress legislators from Kolar district met the Chief Minister over disagreements allegedly linked to KGF MLA Roopa Shashidhar, the daughter of Minister K.H.

Muniyappa. The legislators’ concerns included the appointment of a managing director at the District Cooperative Central Bank and alleged attempts to control its affairs. MLA K.Y.

Narayanswamy said Shashidhar had threatened him during a conversation in the Assembly. He said the legislators approached Shivakumar after learning that an attempt was being made to remove the bank’s managing director.