Bengaluru, 6 Aug

Discontent over the Cabinet expansion spilled onto the streets on Thursday despite Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala holding reconciliation talks with disgruntled legislators a day earlier, as supporters of Congress MLAs staged protests in Kolar and Haveri districts.

A Congress-backed bandh in Bangarpet town of Kolar district disrupted normal life in protest against the exclusion of three-time MLA SN Narayanaswamy from the expanded ministry. Shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained shut in many areas, while bus and auto-rickshaw services were affected. Congress workers staged demonstrations, burnt tyres and demanded Narayanaswamy's immediate induction into the Cabinet.

The bandh received support from the Farmers' Association, Dalit organisations, the Taluk Congress unit, the Hotel Owners' Association and other local groups.

Tension flared when former BJP MP S Muniswamy and BJP workers alleged traders were being forced to shut their shops. They staged a protest outside the Bangarpet Police Station, demanding that shopkeepers be allowed to keep their establishments open. Congress leaders denied the allegations, insisting the bandh was voluntary. Police deployed heavy security and prevented the confrontation from escalating. No major untoward incidents were reported.

In Haveri district, supporters of Byadgi MLA Basavaraj Shivannavar held a procession from the Byadgi-Haveri Math to Mallilar Mahadevappa Circle, raising slogans demanding his inclusion in the Cabinet. Protesters alleged that the Kuruba community from North Karnataka had not received adequate representation in the ministry.

The protests followed a bandh by supporters of Bagepalli MLA S N Subba Reddy in Chikkaballapura district on Wednesday, during which roads were blocked, KSRTC buses stopped and tyres burnt.

The demonstrations underscored continuing dissatisfaction over the Cabinet expansion, under which Shivakumar inducted 19 ministers on Monday.