Clash in the Heart of Delhi: Karnataka Bhavan Power Dispute Turns Physical
A dispute between aides of two top Karnataka leaders—Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah—erupted into a dramatic altercation at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi. At the center of the incident is a startling accusation: a government officer alleges he was assaulted with a shoe by a colleague tied to the rival political faction.
This isn’t just office politics gone bad. The scuffle symbolically underscores the tension that occasionally simmers beneath the surface between teams loyal to the state’s two most powerful leaders.
Allegations Fly: “Beaten with a Shoe”
H Anjaneya, the special officer to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, filed a formal complaint accusing C Mohan Kumar—who serves as special officer to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah—of physically assaulting him. The alleged incident took place inside the government-run Karnataka Bhavan, a key administrative hub for the state in the national capital.
“I was beaten with a shoe, and it has hurt my honour and dignity. Conduct a criminal trial against him (Kumar) and give me justice,” Anjaneya wrote in his complaint, as reported by PTI.
Anjaneya didn’t hold back. Beyond the physical attack, his letter accuses Kumar of consistently interfering with his work and behaving in a threatening and disruptive manner. He warned that his safety was at risk, and that any unfortunate incident in the future should be squarely blamed on Kumar.
Timeline of Events: From Verbal Spat to Formal Complaint
- July 22: H Anjaneya submits a written complaint to Resident Commissioner Imkongla Jamir.
- Kumar is accused of hitting Anjaneya with a shoe in front of others inside the office chamber.
- The complaint alleges long-standing misconduct, including prior physical altercations with other officials.
- Resident Commissioner acknowledges receipt of the complaint and commits to following due process.
While the specific details of what triggered the altercation remain murky, the official documents suggest that the incident was not impulsive but an escalation of ongoing tensions between the two camps.
Official Statements Raise Eyebrows
Resident Commissioner Imkongla Jamir confirmed that her office is treating the complaint with seriousness. “We have received the complaint dated July 22. Due process will be followed,” she stated, according to PTI.
Kumar, who has not yet responded publicly to the allegations, has been portrayed as a repeat offender by Anjaneya. In the complaint letter, Anjaneya writes:
“If you look into the service books in the past, he has beaten MM Joshi and not given respect to senior officers and behaved with ego as special officer on duty for CM.”
The letter adds that Anjaneya had already requested a transfer out of the Bhavan, attempting to avoid further conflict. “I had asked to be shifted to prevent something like this,” he wrote, alleging systemic disruption of duties and a threatened work environment. It’s the kind of bureaucratic friction that—in this case—turned very personal, very fast.
Community Response and Political Undertones
While the altercation has not yet sparked wide-scale public outrage, responses among Karnataka’s political watchers and even low-level staffers at state-run institutions have been watchful. Some are calling the incident a glaring example of fracturing loyalty within the Congress camp in Karnataka.
Though neither DK Shivakumar nor Siddaramaiah have made public comments so far, officials within their circles are reportedly concerned about the optics. A government official based in Bengaluru, who asked to remain unnamed, speculated:
“This is not petty. If true, it weakens our standing in Delhi bureaucratic circles. It’s genuinely embarrassing.”
A few staff at the Bhavan spoke anonymously, suggesting the discord was not new. One employee mentioned, “It always felt like something was boiling underneath. This time, it just overflowed.”
Previous Tensions Uncovered
This latest episode brings past allegations into new light. According to Anjaneya, Kumar has a history of misconduct, including allegedly assaulting MM Joshi. There’s nothing officially documented in the public domain about this earlier case, but the reference adds weight to Anjaneya’s accusation that this wasn’t a one-off incident.
It also raises uncomfortable questions about how personnel decisions are managed at Karnataka Bhavan. When political loyalty intersects with administrative function, lines tend to blur.
What’s Next? Investigation Awaits Clarity
The next steps rest largely with the office of the resident commissioner, which now faces pressure both from within and outside the system to handle the matter with fairness and transparency. Protocol requires the initiation of an internal inquiry, which may be followed by disciplinary action or even criminal proceedings depending on its findings.
That said, enforcement inside such spaces isn’t always straightforward. Any probe that might involve aides linked to two of the state’s most powerful figures is politically charged almost by default.
For now, a waiting game begins. Will Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar comment? Will the complaint reach a court? Will Kumar continue in his role?
Public Trust and Political Fallout
Incidents like these, while perhaps not totally uncommon within corridors of power, still catch public attention because they contrast the official decorum expected from representatives of state authority. It’s not just about a shoe—it’s about the culture within corridors of governance.
What’s at stake is more than a bruised ego or workplace hostility. It’s the morale among staff, the message sent to voters, and the sense of accountability we expect from public servants—especially those working in close proximity to ministers who lead a population of over 60 million.
Final Thoughts
It’s tempting to imagine this will all be handled quietly. Maybe a transfer here. A written apology there. But the visible crack in harmony at Karnataka Bhavan, especially in a political environment already strained with factional undercurrents, won’t be easy to plaster over. And if this shoe story gains traction, don’t be surprised if it becomes emblematic of larger power struggles within Karnataka’s ruling party.
