MADIKERI: The zilla panchayat meeting held here on Thursday witnessed noisy scenes with Congress members staging a dharna on three occasions, asking the chair to explain the reason for the resignation of president of the Standing Committee on Health and Education V.P. Shashidhar.

M.K. Nanjappa, Raja Rao and Karun Kalaiah of the Congress wanted president of the zilla panchayat H.S. Ashok to allow discussions on the reasons for the resignation of Mr. Shashidhar, but Mr. Ashok said he would start the meeting according to the agenda. Madikeri MLA K.B. Bopaiah said Mr. Nanjappa's remarks on BJP MLC Janardhana Reddy were unnecessary. Congress members alleged that Mr. Shashidhar had resigned following a row with Mr. Ashok. Mr. Shashidhar also made remarks on the conduct of the president, which the Congress members demanded to know, Mr. Rao said. When the Congress members staged a dharna, Mr. Ashok adjourned the house for ten minutes.

After resuming the proceedings of the house, Mr. Ashok said Mr. Shashidhar's resignation had been accepted and that the letter did not cite his reasons for resigning.

The BJP member Manu Muthappa was heard asking Mr. Nanjappa to apologise for mentioning Mr. Janardhana Reddy's name. This angered Congress members and they disrupted the proceedings for a second time. Congress members protested against Mr. Muthappa's remarks stating that if the Opposition Congress members were not interested they could walk out of the meeting hall. Following pandemonium, the meeting was once again adjourned for half-and-hour.

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