Karnataka Housing and Waqf Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan will campaign in the Davangere South Assembly by-election, scheduled for April 9, 2026, party sources confirmed on Friday.

The minister, who was initially reluctant due to internal differences over candidate selection, has agreed to set aside his displeasure and actively participate in the campaign after being persuaded by the Congress high command, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Zameer Ahmed Khan publicly expressed disappointment after the party ticket for Davangere South was given to Samarth Shamanur, the son of Minister S.S. Mallikarjun, rather than to a Muslim candidate.

The constituency has a significant Muslim voter base estimated at 35-40 percent, making the community’s support crucial for Congress.

The minister was originally assigned as a star campaigner for the ongoing Kerala Assembly elections.

However, senior leaders have now asked him to balance both responsibilities and focus on the crucial Karnataka bypolls in Davangere South and Bagalkot.

According to the latest updates, Zameer Ahmed Khan is expected to visit Davangere on April 5, 6, and 7 to campaign vigorously in the final phase before polling day.

He will also address public meetings in Bagalkot during the same period.

Party insiders say his presence will help consolidate minority votes and strengthen the Congress campaign in the bypoll, which is being seen as a prestige fight for the ruling party.

This development comes after a series of meetings in Bengaluru, during which senior leaders urged Zameer to set aside internal differences for the party’s greater good.

The Davangere South bypoll was necessitated after the resignation of former MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s son, who had earlier won the seat on a Congress ticket.