UP Congress supporters clash over Biryani at poll meet, 9 arrested

Muzaffarnagar: Several people were injured in clashes among supporters of Congress's Muzaffarnagar candidate Nasimuddin Siddiqui as they fought over biryani, which officials said was being served at an election meeting without permission, prompting authorities to file a police case and arrest nine people.

The election meeting was organised at the residence of former legislator Maulana Jameel, who recently switched to the Congress, at Tadheda village under Kakroli police station on Saturday.

Biryani was to be served for lunch after the meeting but clashes erupted as those present there scrambled for the first serving, officials said.

Police rushed to the spot and dispersed the violent mob.

A case has been filed against 34 people including Jameel and his son Naeem Ahmad under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and for violation of the model code of conduct, Circle Officer Ram Mohan Sharma said, adding that nine people have been arrested so far.

He said security has been tightened in the village and additional forces have been deployed to check any further violence.

Jameel switched over to the Congress from BSP last week. He was elected from the Meerapur assembly constituency in 2012.

Muzaffarnagar will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 11.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Sunday said a section of people wanted to "finish him off politically" by defeating his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy in the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency.

Reflecting the widening cracks in the ruling coalition, Kumaraswamy said he was relying "only on the JD(S) MLAs, MLCs and the sitting member of parliament L R Shivarame Gowda (in Mandya)."

Speaking to reporters in Udupi, the Chief Minister said he did not depend on the alliance partner, Congress in Mandya.

"Some Congress leaders are working and some are not working (in Mandya), but I am not upset with that. There is a section out to finish me off by defeating Nikhil Kumaraswamy. However, they don't have the support of the local people there," Kumaraswamy alleged.

He was responding to a query about the squabbling among coalition partners -- JD(S) and Congress.

"I have eight MLAs (in Mandya Lok Sabha constituency), three MLCs and the sitting Lok Sabha member (L R Shivarame Gowda) are there.. They will work.. I won't blame anybody."

Noting that the situation was 'adverse' for JDS in Mandya while there was reported discord among coalition partners in Tumakuru and Hassan also, he, however, said, "We will not let down the candidates of our alliance partner."

Three days ago, the JD(S) workers had openly rebelled against the Congress candidate for Mysore constituency, C H Vijayashankar and shouted pro-BJP slogans in the presence of Higher Education Minister and JD(S) MLA G T Deve Gowda.

The outburst was against the 'hostility' of Congress in Mandya and Hassan, the two constituencies where former prime minister H D Deve Gowda's grandsons Nikhil Kumaraswamy and Prajwal Revanna are contesting the Lok Sabha election.

Reacting to film actress Sumalatha Ambareesh's accusation that the JD(S) was playing 'mischief' in Mandya, the chief minister retorted it was she who has been running a negative campaign.

He also refuted her charge that the JD(S) fielded her three namesakes.

"How can I stop anyone from contesting the election? Kumaraswamy contended.

Sumalatha, the widow of popular Kannada actor and former MP from Mandya Ambareesh, is giving a tough time to Nikhil with the support of BJP and some disgruntled Congress and JD(S) leaders.