NEW DELHI, 26 JULY

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s aides clashed with each other at the Karnataka Bhavan, hinting at a heightened power struggle between the two Congress leaders.

The incident involved C Mohan Kumar, Siddaramaiah's Special Duty Officer (SDO), and H Anjaneya, SDO to Shivakumar. The commotion between the two reached their bosses. Anjaneya demanded that a departmental inquiry be conducted against Mohan Kumar, who is also the Assistant Resident Commissioner of Karnataka Bhavan.

"From the day he assumed office as Assistant Resident Commissioner, Mohan has been obstructing duties. In his office, he threatened to take off his shoes and beat me, Anjaneya said in a formal complaint to the State Chief Secretary. “Mohan had come to beat me in front of everyone in the office premises. Mohan is responsible if there is any accident. 

"Even though he is senior in service, he has been preventing me from performing my duties. Therefore, the departmental inquiry should be held into his promotion and should also inquire into the fact that my dignity has been lost," Anjaneya said.

However, Mohan Kumar clarified that he did not threaten to hit with a boot.

"Anjaneya had come to the office earlier. He sarcastically said something inappropriate. I didn't notice because I was on a phone call. He left. An office staff member brought the matter to my notice. Later, I called Anjaneya and asked for an explanation," Kumar said.

Mohan claimed that Anjaneya behaved rudely with the ladies in the Karnataka Bhavan. "The women staff have also complained about this to the Women's Commission," Kumar said.

Delhi police said they didn't receive any PCR call or complaint regarding the clash, but will take appropriate action if complaints are registered. 

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah said that he had learned about the clash from someone and would review it.