Karwar: A KDP (Karnataka Development Programme) meeting turned stormy on Monday after a sharp confrontation broke out between District In-charge Minister Mankal Vaidya and Ankola–Karwar MLA Satish Sail, culminating in the MLA staging a walkout in full view of senior officials.
The flashpoint arose during discussions on the condition of government hospitals in Karwar taluk. While health department officials asserted that there was no shortage of medicines in district facilities, Sail strongly challenged the claim, citing what he described as ground-level realities. He pointed out that several primary health centres, including those in Halga, Kaiga and Mallapur, were functioning without doctors, questioning the logic of maintaining medicine stocks when medical professionals were unavailable to treat patients.
Intervening in the debate, Minister Vaidya indicated that the shortage of doctors was a more pressing concern than medicine availability. He reportedly suggested that attention should be directed toward filling vacant posts rather than dwelling on drug stocks at a district-level review meeting, adding that taluk-specific matters should not overshadow the broader KDP agenda.
The remarks drew a sharp response from Sail, who maintained that raising public grievances was part of his responsibility as an elected representative. Emphasising that he was not present merely as a silent participant, he expressed dissatisfaction over what he viewed as a dismissive attitude toward serious healthcare concerns. In an emotional moment, he stated that he was not “illiterate” to simply nod in agreement with official statements, before walking out and asking the meeting to continue without him.
Sirsi–Siddapur MLA Bheemanna Naik reportedly attempted to pacify Sail, but the latter exited the hall without reconsidering. The meeting continued under the chairmanship of Minister Vaidya, though the atmosphere remained visibly tense. Deputy Commissioner Lakshmipriya and Zilla Panchayat CEO Dileesh Sasi were among the senior officials present.
Later, speaking to reporters, Sail alleged that the healthcare situation in the district was being projected in an overly optimistic manner. He noted that costly equipment, including an MRI machine at the Karwar Medical College, remained unused due to the absence of technicians. He further questioned whether district authorities were ensuring proper follow-up on issues repeatedly raised during review meetings.
Addressing the broader challenge of attracting specialist doctors to Karwar, Sail said many were reluctant to relocate because of limited educational facilities for their children and comparatively weaker infrastructure than larger cities such as Mangaluru. He also hinted that internal political differences among elected representatives often slowed the pace of major developmental initiatives.
Beyond healthcare, Sail highlighted environmental and livelihood concerns related to the Kali River. He stated that the river’s natural flow had changed following the construction of multiple dams for power generation. Restrictions on sand extraction, he added, had compounded local difficulties, while tidal ingress was reportedly pushing saline water inland up to villages such as Kerwadi, aggravating drinking water problems.
Responding to the controversy, Minister Vaidya later sought to downplay the episode and dismissed suggestions of a serious rift. He described his relationship with Sail as cordial, likening it to that of “a husband and wife,” and suggested that differences of opinion were natural.
The minister clarified that Sail’s departure was not due to anger but because of prior commitments, and maintained that there was no major dispute. According to him, the meeting proceeded as scheduled after the brief disruption.