Table Of Contents

In a sharp escalation of internal discord within the Karnataka Congress, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has removed his Political Secretary, MLC Naseer Ahmed, with immediate effect amid allegations of anti-party activities during the April 9 Davangere South Assembly bypoll: housing, Minority Welfare and Waqf Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, a five-time MLA and one of the party’s most prominent Muslim faces, has been summoned to the Chief Minister’s residence and asked to explain his conduct directly to the Congress high command.

The developments mark the latest chapter in a bitter intra-party rift triggered by the controversial ticket selection for the bypoll, which was necessitated by the death of veteran Congress leader and former MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa.

The seat has a significant Muslim voter base of nearly 40 per cent, leading several minority leaders to demand a candidate from the community.

Instead, the party high command and state leadership fielded Samarth Mallikarjun, son of Mines and Geology Minister S.S. Mallikarjun.

Allegations Of Sabotage Rock Party Unity

According to multiple reports and an internal assessment shared with the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Zameer Ahmed Khan, along with MLCs Naseer Ahmed and K. Abdul Jabbar (former KPCC Minority Cell president), are accused of covertly undermining the official Congress campaign.

Party insiders claim the trio was unhappy with the non-Muslim ticket and allegedly extended covert support, including possible financial assistance, to the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) candidate, Afsar Kodlipete, in a bid to split Muslim votes and “teach the party a lesson.”

Intelligence reports and a note submitted by AICC secretary Abhishek Dutt are said to have flagged the alleged non-cooperation.

Zameer, who was officially deputed as a star campaigner in Kerala, reportedly joined the Davangere campaign only in the final days and was largely absent earlier.

Several Congress MLAs and district leaders have lodged complaints against him, accusing him of “unilateral functioning” and failing to mobilise minority voters effectively.

K. Abdul Jabbar had already resigned from his post as KPCC Minority Cell chief on Saturday, citing “disrespect” shown to Zameer and mounting discontent among minority workers.

Today’s Swift Action And Zameer’s Defence

In a decisive move this morning, the Karnataka government issued a notification relieving Naseer Ahmed, a close aide of Siddaramaiah since his appointment in June 2023, of his responsibilities as Political Secretary.

Sources said Ahmed initially resisted calls to step down voluntarily, prompting the issuance of the formal order.

This marks the fifth high-profile exit from the Chief Minister’s Office in the last ten months.

Hours later, Siddaramaiah summoned Zameer Ahmed Khan to his Cauvery residence.

Emerging from the meeting, the minister told reporters he had been asked to clarify the allegations before the high command.

In a pointed defence, Zameer asserted:

“I am a common worker; I have never called myself a leader. I am a servant of the party. I openly demanded a Muslim ticket in a big party meeting. I even offered to resign as minister if Congress loses the seat.”

He maintained that his limited presence in Davangere was due to prior high-command duties in Kerala and denied any wrongdoing.

Notably, after the meeting, Zameer and the Chief Minister were seen leaving together in the same vehicle, a small but symbolic gesture that some interpret as the CM continuing to shield his loyalist for now.

High Command Cracks Down; Cabinet Reshuffle Looms

The Congress high command in Delhi is understood to be furious over the public display of dissent and has directed Siddaramaiah to take “strict action” against those involved.

Sources close to the leadership indicate that Zameer Ahmed Khan could be dropped from the cabinet in an impending reshuffle to send a strong message and restore discipline.

The episode has exposed deep fissures within the Congress’s minority wing and raised questions about the stability of the Siddaramaiah camp.

Senior leaders such as KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar and other minority faces like Rizwan Arshad have been working to contain the damage, with some publicly listing active campaigners while pointing out Zameer’s name.

Background And Broader Implications

The controversy is not new.

Even before polling, a war of words erupted when Zameer publicly suggested a minority candidate for the seat, prompting open exchanges with the Mallikarjun family.

Rebel Congress leader Sadik Pailwan had also initially stayed in the fray, further complicating the dynamics.

With bypoll results still weeks away (counting is scheduled for May 4), the focus has shifted entirely to internal accountability.

The developments come at a sensitive time for the Congress government, which is navigating multiple challenges, including coalition management and upcoming electoral tests.

Sources in the Congress high command have described the episode as “embarrassing” and a “serious breach of discipline,” warning that further leniency could embolden factionalism.

As the dust settles on the Davangere South bypoll, the real battle for Karnataka Congress appears to be playing out not against the opposition, but within its own ranks.

The coming days will reveal whether the leadership’s firm hand can restore unity or whether the rift within the minority leadership widens further.