BENGALURU: Dr Appaji Rao, president of Vokkaligara Sangha, was removed from his post on Friday after a meeting of office bearers and directors held at their office in V V Puram.
Supporters of Appaji Rao came to blows with supporters of Sangha office bearers on Friday morning as Appaji Rao entered his office.
The meeting saw Deputy Registrar of Cooperation Department deputed as an observer. Eighteen of 35 directors of Sangha voted to have Appaji Rao removed.
Another office bearer, Narayana Murthy, was appointed as interim president. An election to the post will be held on January 18.
A battle has been brewing at the Sangha, which has three lakh members, as many directors expressed their lack of confidence in Appaji Rao. A meeting was held earlier to bring about the no-confidence motion, but Appaji Rao had prevailed.
Later, speaking to the media, Appaji Rao questioned the legality of conducting a meeting without serving the mandatory seven-day notice.
“I had received a request to conduct a meeting, but it had been rejected. The by-law of the association states a two-third majority is required to move a no-confidence motion. I will question the legality of this in court,” he said.