Cong leaders come to blows

Our Correspondent

Kathua, October 6

Former minister Manohar Lal Sharma and senior Congress leader Kulbeer Singh clashed with each other during a meeting convened on Sunday to finalise the names of party candidates for the Block Development Council (BDC) elections.

Senior leaders attending the meeting had to intervene and pacify both leaders, but not before they exchanged blows and hurled abuses in full public view.

Eye-witnesses said Sharma, who happens to be district president of Kathua Congress, finalised the name of a party candidate for Barnoti BDC. Kulbeer Singh, who is secretary of Pradesh Congress Committee, expressed his anguish over ignoring his candidature. Both leaders started hurling abuses at each other and exchanged blows. Former MLA and ex-MLC Girdhari Lal Chalotra and Subash Gupta separated the leaders and pacified them.

Singh, who himself is an elected panchayat member from Uttri Barwal Panchayat, had sought mandate for BDC Barnoti chairmanship, but his candidature was rejected.

Sources said serious differences have cropped up within the Congress over the distribution of tickets for BDC elections to be held on October 24.

Elections for the 19 blocks of Kathua district will be held on October 24. As many as 2,184 voters will vote in the poll and elect 19 BDC chairpersons.