Karnataka Cabinet reshuffle sparks protests, violence

TIL Desk/National/Bangalore-Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s much anticipated Cabinet reshuffle and induction of 13 new Ministers was accompanied by protests, resulting in sporadic violence and traffic disruption in arterial roads, by disgruntled Congress workers and leaders.

While the reshuffle was aimed at dropping “non-performing” Ministers, supporters of dropped ones such as V. Srinivas Prasad, M.H. Ambareesh, Shivaraj Tangadagi took to the streets in protest, in different parts of the State, and in some cases even indulged in violence. Lashing out at the Chief Minister, Mr. Srinivas Prasad said in Mysuru that the former had kept him in the dark on his decision.

Severe traffic disruptions were witnessed on the arterial Bengaluru-Mysuru highway as supporters of Vijayanagar (Bengaluru) MLA, M. Krishnappa, who was expected to be given a berth but was not, threw stones and blocked the road in the constituency. Mr. Ambareesh’s loyalists blocked the highway near Mandya.