Through the Reader lens — A dispute and physical assault broke out among Congress party workers in Belagavi, Karnataka, during a visit by an All India Congress Committee (AICC) observer tasked with overseeing city unit leadership appointments. The incident highlights deepening factional tensions within the party in the region, reportedly fueled by dissatisfaction over recent cabinet expansion decisions that excluded four North Karnataka legislators from ministerial positions. The disruption occurred in the presence of the AICC observer, underscoring the intensity of internal rivalries over organizational control and political patronage. The event reflects broader challenges for the Congress party in managing competing interests among regional leaders and workers following its return to power in Karnataka. Observers will be watching whether the AICC intervenes to mediate the Belagavi city unit dispute or if the factionalism spreads to other districts. The exclusion of North Karnataka legislators from the cabinet remains a flashpoint, with potential implications for party unity ahead of future electoral cycles.