Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday lost his cool during a Congress protest rally after Youth Congress workers repeatedly raised slogans in favour of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar while he was preparing to address the gathering.

The incident took place at a demonstration organised by the ruling Congress to oppose the Centre’s decision to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with a new rural employment initiative titled Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajivika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G).

Senior Congress leaders, including Shivakumar, party general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, ministers, Members of Parliament and legislators, were present at the rally.

As Siddaramaiah stood up from his seat and walked towards the podium, a section of party workers began chanting “DK, DK”, referring to the deputy chief minister. The sloganeering grew louder as the chief minister reached the stage.

Visibly annoyed, Siddaramaiah asked the workers to stop shouting. When the slogans continued, he sharply questioned party leaders on the stage, asking, “Who are those shouting ‘DK, DK’?”

The compere intervened, urging the Youth Congress workers to maintain silence while the chief minister addressed the rally. Despite the appeal, attempts to interrupt Siddaramaiah reportedly continued even after he began speaking.

Power struggle backdrop within Karnataka Congress

The episode comes amid ongoing speculation about a power struggle within the Karnataka Congress, with several MLAs and MLCs openly expressing support for Shivakumar. The internal dynamics between the two senior leaders have repeatedly drawn public attention since the party came to power in the state.

Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have earlier stated that they would abide by the decision of the party high command regarding leadership matters.

The chief minister has also asserted on multiple occasions that he enjoys the backing of the high command and is confident of completing the full five-year term in office.

Resignation comes amid heated exchange between Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath over Magh Mela incident and wider political issues

The confrontation between Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has escalated further with the resignation of an Ayodhya-based bureaucrat, who said he stepped down in support of the government, the Constitution and democratic values.

The row began earlier this month after the Shankaracharya and his supporters alleged they were prevented from taking a holy dip at the Sangam in Prayagraj during the Magh Mela. The local administration, however, maintained that the seer’s chariot procession was stopped to avoid the risk of a stampede in the crowded area and that he was asked to proceed on foot like other devotees.

Terming the incident an insult, the Shankaracharya launched a protest, leading to a sharp verbal exchange with the chief minister. Without naming him, Yogi Adityanath cautioned people against figures like “Kalanemi”, a demon from the Ramayana who disguised himself as a saint to deceive Lord Hanuman.

Responding to the remark, the Shankaracharya said the chief minister, now a politician, should focus on governance and leave religious matters to seers. He questioned the appropriateness of a chief minister discussing religious symbolism instead of issues such as education, health, law and order, and economic development.

The Shankaracharya also weighed in on the controversy surrounding newly notified University Grants Commission rules that propose special committees, helplines and monitoring teams to address complaints, particularly from SC, ST and OBC students. Critics have argued that the framework could result in discrimination against general category students.

Speaking to media, the Shankaracharya criticised the approach, stating that injustice cannot be attributed to an entire caste and warning that pitting one caste against another could harm Hindu society. He called for the rules to be withdrawn.

Ayodhya GST officer quits citing ‘insult’ to elected leadership

On Tuesday, Ayodhya deputy GST commissioner Prashant Kumar Singh tendered his resignation, saying he could not tolerate what he described as an insult to the chief minister, the Prime Minister and other constitutional authorities.

In a statement, Singh said he had resigned in accordance with service rules and out of loyalty to the government, adding that he was deeply hurt by what he termed unrestrained comments aimed at dividing society. He said the government had provided him livelihood and that he could not continue in service while remaining silent.

Singh alleged that personal remarks were made against the chief minister and emphasised that Yogi Adityanath is a democratically elected leader. He also said he was troubled by what he described as political motives behind the debate over the UGC rules.

The officer stated that once his resignation is accepted, he plans to take up social work.

Scotland on Monday announced its 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin on February 7 and jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The European side was added to the tournament after the International Cricket Council replaced Bangladesh, following the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s decision not to send its team to India due to security concerns. Scotland will be led by Richie Berrington, who has previously captained the side in major international tournaments.

Scotland have featured in six of the nine editions of the T20 World Cup so far, having participated in the 2007, 2009, 2016, 2021, 2022 and 2024 editions.

Squad balance and new faces

Along with the main squad, Scotland also named two travelling reserves and three non-travelling reserves for the marquee event.

Cricket Scotland’s head of performance Steve Snell expressed confidence in the squad’s balance and preparation for sub-continent conditions. He said the selected group offers flexibility for different match situations and challenges expected in India.

Snell also highlighted opportunities for younger players, particularly pacer Zainullah Ihsan, who has impressed at youth and ‘A’ team levels with his pace and skill set. He added that Oliver Davidson earned his place through consistent effort and improvement over recent months.

According to Snell, the players are motivated to compete against the world’s best and are eager to make an impact on the global stage.

Group C fixtures and opening match

Scotland have been placed in Group C, alongside England, Italy, Nepal and the West Indies. Their campaign will begin on February 7 with an opening fixture against the West Indies at Eden Gardens.

Scotland squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

Squad:
Richie Berrington (captain), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross, Bradley Currie, Oliver Davidson, Chris Greaves, Zainullah Ihsan, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Bradley Wheal

Travelling reserves:
Jasper Davidson, Jack Jarvis

Non-travelling reserves:
Mackenzie Jones, Chris McBride, Charlie Tear