Ballari, Jan. 2 -- A clash broke out between Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and Bharatiya Janata Party MLA G Janardhana Reddy outside the latter's residence in Ballari over a dispute over the installation of a banner.

Tensions flared when Janardhana Reddy's supporters objected to putting up banners for an event to install the Valmiki statue on January 3. What began as a verbal altercation soon escalated, the two groups got involved in hand-to-hand combat and stone-pelting, prompting police to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, police said. As news of the incident spread rapidly, supporters of both leaders gathered in large numbers within minutes, further escalating tension in the city. Both MLAs, who were not in the city at the time of...