Tense situation prevailed for nearly two hours when two groups clashed in front of the leaders. Though the police intervened and diffused the situation a little, only after the arrival of the SP it was brought under control.
During the Awareness rally organised by the BJP against JD (S), here in the evening on Sunday, former minister K H Hanumegowda and his followers were to join the BJP.

The opposite group stopped Hanumegowda from climbing to the dais and pushed him. The two groups entered into a verbal duel and the whole exchange was heard on the loudspeakers.

Even as the situation was getting out of hand, the police dispersed the two groups. Seeing that the crowd was ready to pelt stones, they tightened the security.

The trouble began when former chief minister B S Yediyurappa and BJP State president Sadananda Gowda were participating in function at Belur. The tussle was going on even after the party workers after attending the programme there travelled 40 km to Hassan.

Former minsters Ramachandre Gowda, R Ashok, former legislators C T Ravi, Renukacharya, former MPs Ayanur Manjunath, Vijayshanker tried to bring about a truce between the two groups.

However, both the groups refused to heed to their advise. Because of the trouble, Hanumegowda did not get a chance to join the party. But another group lead by former CMC president J T Kumar belonging to the Congress joined BJP on the occasion.