Congress councillors who created a ruckus during the monthly council meeting of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation in Hubballi on Wednesday being removed from the council hall by marshals.
| Photo Credit: KIRAN BAKALE
The monthly council meeting of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) witnessed high drama on Wednesday with the opposition Congress councillors rushing to the well of the House objecting to an issue being dropped from the agenda which consequently led to the suspension of three councillors by the Mayor and the marshals being called to send them out.
And, in the melee, woman councillor Suvarna Kallakuntla, who was being carried out by the marshals, fell down, leading to further chaos.
Ms. Kallakuntla was immediately given water. HDMC Health Officer Sridhar Dandappanavar also attended to her. He checked her BP and as she complained of chest pain, she was immediately rushed to the adjoining Chitaguppi Hospital.
She was discharged from hospital in the evening.
Health Officer Sridhar Dandappanavar checking Congress councillor Suvarna Kallakuntla after she fell down while being carried out by marshals during the monthly council meeting in Hubballi on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
KIRAN BAKALE
Meanwhile, chaos escalated in the council. There were two adjournments as the Congress councillors were upset over the issue of the State government’s grant of ₹10 crore to the municipal corporation not being included in the agenda. They created a ruckus over the issue, leading to adjournments.
The plea by the Mayor and the ruling party leaders to allow the proceedings to be held as per the agenda did not make any impact on the opposition councillors forcing adjournments.
The opposition members also argued with the municipal commissioner Rudresh Ghali on the issue. When the opposition members again rushed to the well of the House as the meeting resumed and there was no sign of them calming down, Mayor Jyoti Patil ordered the suspension of three councillors Rajashekhar Kamati, Doreraj Manikuntla and Suvarna Kallakuntla and ordered the marshals to take them out.
As the female marshals were carrying Ms. Kallakuntla out of the council hall, she fell down.
As the health officer attended to her, Mayor Jyoti Patil and Deputy Mayor Santosh Chavan came down to enquire about her health and as she complained of chest pain, they asked the health officer to immediately shift her to hospital and adjourned the meeting again.
Then the Congress councillors too left the council hall.
When the meeting resumed after the third adjournment and after the condolence motion was moved by the floor leader Iresh Anchatageri, the newly elected Mayor began her maiden speech in the council in the absence of Congress councillors.
Even as she was reading her speech, the Congress councillors led by opposition leader Imran Yaligar returned to the meeting and objected to the Mayor’s speech.
They relented a bit after being convinced by the BJP leaders but resorted to sloganeering forcing the Mayor to direct the marshals to send them out again. In protest, the Congress councillors left the council hall, but stood outside the hall to protest against what they perceived as injustice.
The Mayor completed her speech amid sloganeering from the Congress councillors who stood outside the hall.
Speaking to presspersons, opposition leader Imran Yaligar and others termed the whole incident as highhandedness of the ruling BJP, while Mayor Jyoti Patil defended her action.
She said that despite clarifying that the issue will be taken up for discussion in the next council meeting, the Congress councillors were adamant in creating a problem and insisted that she take up the matter violating the standard procedures.
Meanwhile, while speaking on the Mayor’s maiden speech, BJP leaders, including Thippanna Majjagi, Rajanna Koravi, and others condemned the behaviour of the opposition councillors.
Published – July 30, 2025 07:17 pm IST
