A day after the body of a 40-year-old woman was found stuffed in a sack and dumped in a garbage truck here, her partner was arrested on Monday for allegedly killing her following a drunken altercation, police said.

The body was discovered by locals on Sunday, who alerted officials at the Chennammanakere Achukattu police station.

The deceased, identified as Asha, a resident of the same area, had been living with the 33-year-old man from Assam. Both worked as housekeeping staff through a private company, hired via aggregator apps, police said.

The couple had rented a house in the locality and introduced themselves as “husband and wife,” though police said this has not been legally verified.

Asha returned home in an inebriated state on Saturday night, which led to a heated argument with her partner. The altercation allegedly turned physical, and she was suffocated to death, police said.

The man then tied up her body, stuffed it into a sack, and dumped it in a garbage truck sometime between late Saturday night and early Sunday, police added.

“Asha and the man had been living together for over a year. On the night of the incident, a drunken argument escalated into a physical fight, during which she was allegedly suffocated to death,” said Lokesh B Jagalasar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South).

A case of murder and destruction of evidence has been registered at the Chennammanakere Achukattu police station based on a complaint from locals. The man was taken into custody following questioning.

Police said Asha was a widow. Both she and the man had two children each from their previous marriages and were divorced before they began living together. Further investigation is underway.

The police have not yet revealed the man’s name.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah

Mysuru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday asserted that the Congress government in the state will remain “as solid as a rock” for five years and maintained that he and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar share good terms.

He also hit out at BJP leaders for claiming he would not inaugurate the world-famous Mysuru Dasara celebrations this year, calling them “experts in lying.”

These remarks come amid renewed speculation about a possible leadership change in Karnataka later this year.

“This government will be as solid as a ‘bande’ (rock) for five years,” Siddaramaiah told reporters, with Shivakumar—often referred to as ‘bande’ by his supporters—by his side.

Asked whether he and Shivakumar were on good terms, Siddaramaiah replied, “We are on good terms”. He then held and raised Shivakumar’s hand as a sign of unity.

To a question on attempts to create a rift between them, he said, “We don’t listen to what others say.” Shivakumar nodded in agreement.

When asked about BJP leaders claiming he would not be the Chief Minister to inaugurate the Mysuru Dasara celebrations this year, Siddaramaiah turned the question to the media. When reporters said they believed he would inaugurate the event as CM, he quipped, “Then fine.”

“BJP leaders are experts in lying. Sriramulu, who made this claim, has lost how many times? He lost both the Parliament and the Assembly elections. How can someone who keeps losing predict the future?” he asked.

Speculation over leadership change has resurfaced after Congress MLA H A Iqbal Hussain claimed that Shivakumar may get an opportunity to become Chief Minister in two to three months, while Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna hinted at “revolutionary” political developments in the state after September.

Talks of a power-sharing agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had been doing the rounds for some time but had subsided following clear instructions from the party high command.

Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, is visiting the state and will hold separate meetings with party legislators.

Asked about Surjewala’s visit, Siddaramaiah said, “He is the AICC in-charge General Secretary. He will seek opinions from MLAs, hear their concerns, and discuss what needs to be done to strengthen the organisation. He will do his job.”

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara

Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday termed statements made by some leaders within the ruling Congress, indicating the Chief Minister change in the state, as personal opinion, and said one should not cross the “Lakshman Rekha” drawn by the party.

While speaking to reporters, he was responding to certain recent comments made by some party leaders, which led to speculations about a leadership change in Karnataka later this year.

Congress MLA, H A Iqbal Hussain, has claimed that Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar may get an opportunity to become the Chief Minister of the state in two-three months; while Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna has indicated ‘revolutionary’ political developments in the state after September.

Responding to a question about statements by party leaders on leadership change, Parameshwara said, “Individually, they have expressed their opinions, to some extent I don’t think it is wrong, but then again, there is a Lakshman Rekha drawn by the party, beyond the point one shouldn’t go. Probably the AICC will look into it, through the General Secretary in charge.”

Asked about Rajanna’s statement indicating ‘revolutionary’ political developments in the state after September, he said he didn’t know anything about it.

There have been speculations within political circles, especially within the ruling Congress, for some time now, about the chief minister change later this year, citing a power-sharing agreement (which was not public) involving incumbent Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. But such talks had taken a backseat for some time, after strong instructions from the party high command.

Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala is visiting the state and will be holding separate meetings with party legislators.

Responding to a question on this, the home minister said. “Surjewala ji is our in-charge General Secretary of AICC, he keeps visiting Karnataka to look into various aspects, not necessarily governmental issues. Politically, in terms of strengthening the party, party programmes, and obviously, if there are any disturbances in the party or the government, naturally, as an in-charge General Secretary, he will guide us.”

Also, there were some statements by certain MLAs during the last couple of weeks, and he may also look into them, he added.

Parameshwara was referring to disgruntlement within the ruling Congress, with some legislators speaking openly against their own party government’s functioning.

Congress MLA from Aland constituency, B R Patil, had recently alleged bribery in the allotment of public housing under the Housing department; while MLA Raju Kage, who represents Kagwad assembly constituency had hinted at resigning, citing delays in developmental works and the release of funds, while alleging that the administration had “completely collapsed”.

Their open remarks have embarrassed the ruling Congress, with opposition BJP and JD(S) using it to target the government, accusing it of rampant corruption and demanding the resignation of CM Siddaramaiah and Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan.

To a question on RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale’s call for reviewing the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ in the Preamble of the Constitution, Parameshwara said, RSS and BJP have kept the issue of emergency alive for obvious reasons, it is a political decision which they have taken, and the AICC will handle it.

“The constitution is a time-tested one, while others are appreciating the Indian constitution, within the country, we try to comment and say ‘do this, do that’. I don’t think it is necessary right now. I don’t know what their (RSS/BJP) agenda is within, but definitely it doesn’t go well in the democratic setup at the moment,” he added.