Congress Karnataka MLAs ‘fight with liquor bottles’

Two Congress MLAs allegedly attacked each other with liquor bottles in a brawl involving three MLAs in the early hours of Sunday in a plush resort on Bengaluru’s outskirts where the party has lodged them to keep them away from the BJP’s poaching bids.

Both MLAs, Anand Singh (Vijayanagara) and JN Ganesh (Kampli), belong to the district of Ballari. Ganesh is also seen as a protege of Singh. The Vijayanagara MLA has been hospitalised at Apollo Hospital in Seshadripuram, while Ganesh has also suffered minor injuries. An embarrassed Congress denied the whole incident, but later said it was a “friendly fight.”

The state BJP celebrated the event on the social media with a series of tweets. In a tongue-in-cheek tweet, the party wished Anand Singh a speedy recovery. No police complaint has been registered.


Governor VR Vala, however, may choose to call for a report on Monday based on media reports.

The alleged brawl took place at Eagleton Resort where the Congress sequestered 75 MLAs since Friday. An argument broke out between two factions of Ballari MLAs on joining the BJP. While two were in favour, another chose to retreat after an initial assurance. The brawl also involved another Congress MLA Bheema Naik (Hagaribommanahalli), but he escaped unhurt.

Senior Congress leaders denied the brawl and asserted that all was well within the party. “No such fight has taken place in the resort. Anand Singh is fine and occupied with work,” said DK Shivakumar, water resources minister and Congress’s troubleshooter.

Many leaders, including former chief minister and CLP leader Siddaramaiah, pleaded ignorance till late evening. Siddaramaiah i d d a r a m a i a h who was in a North Karnataka district during the day said he was not aware of the fight. It was Congress minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan who first admitted to the incident. He said it was “a fight between friends.”