Davanagere, September 10 (Udaipur Kiran) : Tensions have escalated in Karnataka following a sharp exchange between Minister S.S. Mallikarjun and senior BJP MLA B.P. Harish over water supply issues in Davanagere district. The dispute ignited during a veterinary hospital inauguration in the town of Harihar, where a farmer raised concerns about providing water to the city, prompting a heated response from Mallikarjun.
The verbal clash has garnered significant attention, with videos of the altercation circulating widely on social media. This incident has sparked worries among the public regarding the increasing use of personal attacks and inappropriate language in political discourse.
S.S. Mallikarjun, serving as the Minister for Mines and Geology as well as Horticulture, is a prominent figure in the Congress party and the son of the late Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa. His family has deep political roots, with his wife Prabha Mallikarjun serving as a Congress MP and his son Samarth Mallikarjun holding a legislative seat in Davanagere South.
In contrast, B.P. Harish represents the BJP and is the sole party MLA from Davanagere district, serving the Harihar assembly constituency. Following Mallikarjun’s comments, Harish accused the minister of prioritizing his family’s political ambitions over the farmers’ needs, suggesting that Mallikarjun would go to great lengths to secure electoral tickets for his family members.
Harish also raised concerns about the diversion of water from the Bhadra reservoir to southern Karnataka districts, claiming that the closer Davanagere district was being neglected in the distribution. In response, he questioned Mallikarjun’s conduct and the political decorum expected from someone in his position, further intensifying the ongoing feud.
The exchange highlights the growing trend of personal attacks in Karnataka’s political landscape, raising questions about the future of civil discourse among public officials.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.