The Congress party is confronting a significant internal crisis and community discontent in the Davanagere South Assembly constituency following the filing of nominations for the upcoming by-election.
According to reports from Suvarna News, a total of 38 candidates submitted their nomination papers on Monday.
Strikingly, 24 of them belong to the minority community, predominantly Muslims, reflecting widespread anger over the Congress leadership’s decision not to field a candidate from the Muslim community.
The revolt has been triggered by the party’s choice of Samarth Shamanur, grandson of late veteran leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa and son of Horticulture Minister S.S. Mallikarjun, as its official candidate.
Local Muslim leaders have accused the party of favouring dynastic politics at the expense of community representation.
Among the prominent minority candidates are:
- Sadiq Pailwan, contesting as a Congress rebel.
- Afsar Kodlipete, the nominee of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).
Both leaders have categorically stated that they will not withdraw their nominations.
Speaking to the media, they reiterated their firm resolve to stay in the contest.
Davanagere South has over 70,000 Muslim voters who have traditionally formed a strong and loyal support base for the Congress.
A major split in these votes is now a real possibility and is causing serious concern within the party.
With the last date for withdrawal of nominations set for March 26, 2026 (evening), Congress leaders are engaged in urgent back-channel negotiations and damage-control efforts to persuade the 24 minority candidates to step down.
The by-election, necessitated by the demise of former minister Shamanur Shivashankarappa, was already high-stakes.
The sudden surge of rebel and independent minority candidates has turned it into a complex, multi-cornered battle, with the Congress facing the risk of losing its traditional vote bank.
The development is being closely watched across Karnataka as it could have broader implications for the party’s minority outreach strategy ahead of future polls.
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