Youth Congress leaders, workers fight each other in KPCC office

Congress is planning a protest against NEET on May 21. | Photo credit: SDI Productions

A meeting called by the Karnataka Youth Congress at the KPCC office in Bengaluru on May 18 to plan a protest against the NEET exam fiasco turned into a battleground between the two factions, leading to a heated argument and shoving that almost bordered on a fistfight. It is to be noted that the Congress is planning a protest against NEET on May 21.

A section of Youth Congress workers and leaders – upset over the recent suspension of 17 people – were outraged by the action of State Youth Congress president HN Manjunath Gowda and condemned his “dictatorial” attitude. Congress sources said the party leaders and workers were suspended for not attending several meetings that were called earlier. State Youth Congress Vice President Deepika Reddy was among those suspended.

It was learned that the issue arose when some of the suspended leaders and workers challenged the action against them and sought a response from State Youth Congress in-charge Nigam Bhandary on their suspension. The group became enraged when a person from Mr. Gowda’s faction intervened and asked them what their active stance was on asking such a question, sources said. While Ms Reddy sought clarification, Mr Gowda is learned to have told her that a separate meeting would be called to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, a verbal exchange broke out between the two groups with the suspended leaders raising slogans against Mr. Gowda. Workers crowded around chairs, shoved each other, and when the situation approached a fistfight, some workers intervened, sources said.

Ms Reddy is learned to have said that the action against her was the result of a political vendetta and conspiracy against women, not a disciplinary action.

Published – 18 May 2026 23:19 IST