Video of Karnataka BJP MLA 'manhandling' woman councillor goes viral

Karnataka BJP MLA, Siddu Savadi allegedly attempted to prevent women BJP councillors from voting as it was heard that they would vote for Congress instead of BJP.

Bagalkot: A BJP MLA Siddu Savadi allegedly manhandled a woman councillor of his own party in order to prevent her from taking part in the elections for the president and vice-president of Mahalingapura Town Municipal Council. The incident that took place on November 9 resurfaced as the video has gone viral.

BJP councillors Savita Hurakadli, Chandini Nayak and Godavari Baat had demanded to party leaders to give them an opportunity to contest in the president and vice-president elections. However, local BJP leaders turned down their demand.

Siddu Savadi was upset on hearing that the women members were planning to vote for the Congress and he attempted to prevent them from voting. He stood at the gate and tried to stop them from entering the polling hall. When Nayak tried to slip through, he pushed her around.

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Savita told journalists later that neither the police nor anyone else helped me." It is a miracle that I survived. I am deeply upset over the incident," said Savita.

However, when asked about the incident Savadi denied any wrongdoing. ''They have (Congress) manhandled, assaulted men and women in the chaos that broke out that day. It is nothing new for Congress because this is their culture,'' said Siddu Savadi, BJP MLA from Terdal. The policemen and officers who were around during the incident did not intervene, he added.