Mangaluru: A reported innocuous comment by Mangaluru City North MLA B.A. Mohiuddin Bava led to a spat between him and Mulki-Moodbidri MLA K. Abhayachandra Jain in the presence of Minister for Planning, Statistics, Science and Technology M.R. Seetharam at the Shivaram Karanth Pilikula Nisargadhama here on Thursday.

Mr. Bava reportedly introduced Mayor Kavita Sanil to Mr. Seetharam when they were waiting for the arrival of Minister in-charge of the district B. Ramanath Rai for the inauguration of the Swami Vivekananda Planetarium.

Mr. Bava reportedly told Mr. Seetharam that Ms. Sanil’s term as Mayor was coming to an end in the next few days. In response, Mr. Seetharam reportedly told Mr. Bava that Ms. Sanil needs an opportunity to further grow in her political career. To this, Mr. Bava reportedly said that she was an aspirant for the Mulki-Moodbidri Assembly constituency ticket from the party.

Mr. Jain, who was standing nearby, reportedly overheard Mr. Bava’s comment. An angry Mr. Jain questioned Mr. Bava about his statement. Realising that he had touched upon a sensitive topic, Mr. Bava is said to have tried to change the topic.

However, there was no let-up in Mr. Jain’s anger and this led to a brief heated exchange of words between him and Mr. Bava. Mr. Seetharam, Manglauru City South MLA J.R. Lobo and other Congress leaders intervened to cool down tempers.

This is not the the first time that Mr. Jain has lost his cool. Mr. Jain had had a spat with MLC Ivan D’Souza, who is also an aspirant for the Mulky-Moodbidri Assembly constituency ticket, soon after the arrival of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the airport on October 22, 2017.