Upset at their leader missing a cabinet berth, followers of Rajshekar Patil, Congress leader and MLA,organised a bandh in his home town of Humnabad on Sunday.
Soon as it was confirmed that Eshwar Khandre, Bhalki MLA was chosen instead of Mr. Patil to represent Bidar in the Cabinet, Mr. Patil’s supporters took to the streets, closing shops and stopping buses.
They shouted slogans against Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and former CM N. Dharam Singh, who they thought had influenced the decision. A group burnt tyres at Ambedkar chowk. Police patrolling jeeps were found roaming the streets. A team led by circle inspector Dattatreya Karnad kept vigil at important intersections like the Solapur- Machilipattanam national highway cross.
Former CMC president Afsar Mian announced that a rally would be taken out in the town by afternoon.
People were put to great inconvenience as no bus was allowed to leave the bus stand. NEKRTC officials instructed buses passing through Humnabad not to enter the town, but to take a detour on the Bidar-Srirangapattana highway.