Arch foes Kumaraswamy, Congress leader D K Shivakumar share dias

Bangalore, Aug 30 (UNI) Arch political foes Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Congress Leader D K Shivakumar, MLA today shared the dias at a function held to launch various development works at Satanur town in the newly formed Ramanagaram district.

Additional Director General of Police Shankar Bidri told UNI that no untoward incidents were reported despite the large number of gathering in the town. As a precautionary measure police had detained 25 people belonging to both Janata Dal(S) and the Congress.

They were released later, he added.

Police had made elaborate security arrangements by deploying nearly 5000 policemen as precautionary measure to maintain law and order in this politically sensitive constitutency.

While Mr Shivakumar represents Satanur in the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister was elected from the neighbouring Ramanagaram town.

The Chief Minister inaugurated a string of development works estimate around Rs 500 crore and presided over the main function in which the two leaders shared the dias.

Mr Kumaraswamy and Mr Shivakumar had been involved in bitter political rivalry and have been criticising each other with a spate of press statements during the recent days.

The situation however remained under control and the function went off peacefully. However the supporters of the two leaders shouted slogans while the function was on and the leaders were giving their speeches.

Anticipating trouble between Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) workers, most of the shops and business establishments remained closed in Satanur town.

UNI