Bengaluru: Internal factionalism within the Karnataka Congress burst into the open after a major clash broke out between rival Youth Congress groups at the KPCC office in Bengaluru on Monday (May 18), following the sudden removal of 15 Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (KPYCC) office-bearers by the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) high command. What began as a preparatory meeting for the proposed May 21 protest against alleged NEET examination irregularities soon turned into a political battleground, exposing deep divisions within the organisation.
The confrontation comes in the backdrop of the high command’s disciplinary action against several Youth Congress leaders, including former state vice-president Deepika Reddy.
Along with her, eight state general secretaries and several state secretaries were relieved from their responsibilities with immediate effect for alleged inactivity, dereliction of duty and failure to participate in organisational programmes.
Chaos erupted at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in Bengaluru after a violent clash broke out between members of the Youth Congress during a meeting held to discuss protests over the alleged NEET question paper leak.
According to sources, tensions had been… pic.twitter.com/Yy3WKwf1cg
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According to party sources, resentment had been brewing among supporters of Deepika Reddy ever since the Indian Youth Congress leadership issued suspension and removal orders earlier this week. The anger finally exploded during the official meeting held at the KPCC office to discuss preparations for the large-scale protest planned against the alleged NEET scam.
As the meeting began, supporters of Karnataka Youth Congress president Manjunath Gowda and Deepika Reddy reportedly exchanged sharp words over the disciplinary action.
Deepika Reddy’s supporters openly questioned the leadership’s decision and raised slogans condemning the removal of their leader.
Eyewitnesses said the atmosphere inside the KPCC office quickly turned tense as rival groups gathered aggressively inside the meeting hall. The argument intensified after another faction objected to the sloganeering and warned members against disrupting the official programme. Within minutes, the verbal altercation escalated into pushing, shoving and near physical assault between Congress party members belonging to both camps.
Several Youth Congress workers indulged in threatening behaviour and heated confrontations in full public view. The situation reportedly spiralled out of control for some time as workers from both factions engaged in aggressive exchanges inside the KPCC premises.
Senior Congress leaders and office-bearers present at the venue rushed to intervene and attempted to pacify the agitating groups. However, despite repeated appeals for calm, the confrontation continued for several minutes before leaders managed to separate the rival camps and restore order.
The clash has brought renewed focus on the growing factionalism within the Karnataka Youth Congress unit at a politically sensitive time for the ruling Congress government. Political observers believe the sudden disciplinary action by the IYC high command has further widened internal divisions among ambitious second-line leaders within the party.
The Indian Youth Congress leadership has maintained that the action was purely organisational and based on performance review.
According to the official communication issued on May 13, the removed office-bearers had allegedly failed to actively participate in organisational activities, mandatory meetings and grassroots programmes despite repeated instructions from the leadership.
The official notice carried a warning, stating that the leaders were being suspended and temporarily relieved from all duties and responsibilities under the KPYCC structure with immediate effect.
The list of removed leaders includes Deepika Reddy, along with general secretaries C.S. Francis Benito, Bindu Gowda, Suman Somashekhar, Afnan Khanam, Lakshmi K, Vani Kamble and Dakshinamurthy S. State secretaries Abdul Rawoof B.M., Syed Hussain Khadri, Mohammed Asif Hussain, S.R.S. Chand Basha, Govardhan G.C., Pawan Salian and Naveen Kumar S were also removed from their posts.
The developments have sparked intense discussions within Congress circles, especially because the internal fight surfaced publicly inside the party headquarters.
Senior leaders are now said to be concerned that continued infighting could weaken the party’s organisational strength and damage its public image ahead of crucial political battles in the state.
Despite the chaos, the Youth Congress leadership is expected to go ahead with the planned May 21 protest against alleged NEET examination irregularities. However, the dramatic scenes witnessed at the KPCC office have clearly highlighted the widening cracks within the Karnataka Youth Congress unit and the growing challenge before the party leadership to maintain internal discipline.
