Tension prevailed in Chickballapur town for sometime on Saturday after a confrontation between Pradeep Eshwar, Congress MLA, and JD(S) workers erupted during a Kempe Gowda Jayanti programme, reaching a flashpoint as a slipper was allegedly hurled at the legislator during a procession.

The MLA described the incident as an “insult meted out to an OBC leader” by JD(S) workers and its leader and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

A group of JD(S) workers are learnt to have entered the venue of the programme and objected to the presence of Mr. Eshwar, the local MLA, on the dais. They opposed his recent remarks against Mr. Kumaraswamy. It is learnt that seers and organisers tried to calm the situation and order was temporarily restored.

However, after he left the event, the situation turned tense again when the Congress MLA allegedly responded defiantly to slogans raised by JD(S) workers against him.

As Mr. Eshwar later travelled in a procession in an open jeep, some protesters allegedly hurled a slipper towards him, which missed him. The police detained the individuals allegedly involved in the incident.

Speaking later, Mr. Eshwar described it as an “insult meted out to an OBC leader” by JD(S) party workes and Mr. Kumaraswamy. “You [Mr. Kumaraswamy] are targeting an OBC leader, a man from an oppressed community. I am not going to be intimidated by your workers,” he said.

Expressing solidarity with him, KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad (also an OBC leader) described the incident as “an act of cowardice” and one contrary to “the spirit of dialogue and discussion” that defines Karnataka’s political culture. He said Congress stood firmly with him. Congress leaders and supporters of Mr. Eshwar staged a protest in front of the Chickballapur Deputy Commissioner’s residence, condemning the incident.

Superintendent of Police Kushal Chouksey, who was personally supervising the security arrangements at the event, reviewed the security situation after the incident. The police are also re-assessing the security cover provided to Mr. Eshwar.