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.

Ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin launched a strong political attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, firmly rejecting the claim that Tamil Nadu is unsafe for women and questioning the Centre’s handling of law and order issues across the country.

Addressing a massive DMK women’s conference in Thanjavur district, Stalin said the Prime Minister’s remarks on women’s safety in Tamil Nadu were misleading and politically motivated. Asserting that the state remains one of the safest places for women, he highlighted the high participation of women in education, employment and public life.

“Mr Prime Minister, I say this with my head held high — Tamil Nadu is the safest place for women,” Stalin said, accusing the Prime Minister of spreading false narratives.

Manipur violence and Centre under fire

Turning his focus to the prolonged violence in Manipur, Stalin questioned the BJP-led government’s failure to restore normalcy in the northeastern state. Referring to official figures, he said hundreds had lost their lives, thousands were injured and more than a lakh people had been displaced.

He asked why the so-called “double-engine government” had been unable to control the situation despite being in power both at the Centre and in the state.

Drug abuse claims rejected

Responding to allegations of rising drug abuse in Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister said narcotics were entering India through BJP-ruled states, blaming the Centre for weak border security and enforcement failures.

Attack on AIADMK-BJP alliance

Stalin also criticised the renewed alliance between the AIADMK and BJP, describing it as a “repackaged failed alliance.” He pointed out that the partnership had been defeated in previous elections and claimed that even when the two parties contested separately, voters rejected them.

Alleging misuse of central agencies, Stalin said NDA allies in Tamil Nadu were functioning under pressure, with investigative agencies being used as tools of intimidation.

Dravidian model and women-centric schemes

Highlighting the achievements of his government, Stalin said the Dravidian model of governance places women’s empowerment and social justice at its core. He recalled initiatives introduced during the tenure of former chief minister M Karunanidhi, including women’s entry into the police force and the expansion of self-help groups.

Stalin said his first decision as Chief Minister was to introduce free bus travel for women, a scheme that has since become widely popular. He also cited women-led self-help groups providing doorstep healthcare services, the breakfast scheme for schoolchildren and the 50 per cent reservation for women in local bodies.

Calling women the “powerhouse” of society, Stalin urged them to actively campaign for the DMK, counter misinformation and mobilise voters. He announced that the party would organise five mega conferences across Tamil Nadu in February as part of its election outreach.

Kanimozhi targets PM Modi

Earlier at the event, DMK MP Kanimozhi launched a sharp attack on the Prime Minister, accusing him of visiting Tamil Nadu only during election periods. She questioned the Centre over pending funds for schoolchildren, the Hosur airport project, flood relief assistance, delimitation concerns and insufficient funding for Tamil language initiatives.

BJP response

The BJP dismissed the DMK’s criticism, arguing that while the BJP and AIADMK had lost elections when contesting separately, their combined vote share indicated that the NDA could still remain a strong contender in Tamil Nadu.