Tempers ran high as two senior ministers, M.P. Renukacharya and V. Somanna, quarrelled over the ministry-making exercise in the presence of chief minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda at his official residence soon after the second phase of expansion of the Cabinet on Thursday.
Sources in the BJP said the duo nearly came to blows, but were told to calm down by other ministers, including Mr Umesh Katti, Mr Basavaraj Bommai and Mr Murugesh Nirani. Mr Somanna, who faced criticism over his re-entry into the Cabinet from several legislators, including his diehard supporter B.P. Harish, suspected the hand of Mr Renukacharya in the row, took potshots at his colleague during the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday evening.
They clashed later on at Mr Gowda’s official residence Anugraha.
The sources said Mr Harish visited former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa at his residence early on Thursday to lodge his protest against the induction of Mr Somanna, but was asked by the leader to exercise restraint.