Congress workers clash over Kharge's election as CLP chief

Bangalore, May 28 (UNI) Infighting in the Congress came to fore when party workers indulged in clashes over the election of Senior partyman Mallikarjun Kharge as leader of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) here today.

Trouble started when Mr Kharge's supporters started bursting crackers on his selection as the CLP leader. A section of workers, mostly youth, objecting to this, started attacking each other.

However, police intervened and brought the situation under control.

A section of the workers were of the opinion that senior leaders should pave way for the youth since the party was pushed to the second position in the election by winning only 80 seats.

Senior Congress Leader D K Shivkumar said ''we will abide by the decision of the High Command in selecting Mr Kharge as the CLP leader though there is need for youth to take lead.'' Earlier in the day, Union Minister and AICC General Secretary, in-charge of Karnataka, Prithviraj Chavan held one-to-one discussion with newly elected members of the Assembly and conveyed their opinion to the High Command which selected Mr Kharge as the new CLP leader.

Later Mr Chavan announced the name of Mr Kharge as proposed by Mr Siddaramaiah and seconded by Mr D K Shivkumar.

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