Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sacked his political secretary, Naseer Ahmed, following allegations that he failed to support the Congress party’s official candidate during the April 9 by-election in Davangere South.
“He has been removed from his post with immediate effect,” the notification, issued by the Protocol Wing of the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, said.
The removal leaves Siddaramaiah without a political secretary. The previous office holder, K.K., was removed. Govindaraj, in June 2025 after a stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium left 11 people dead.
Senior Congress figures accused Ahmed and others of not supporting the party’s chosen candidate, Samarth Mallikarjun, and instead backing rival contenders. The controversy centers on dissatisfaction among some minority leaders over the party’s decision on the party ticket, with allegations that Ahmed, along with Housing and Minority Affairs Minister BZ Zamir Ahmed Khan and leader Abdul Jabbar, pushed for a Muslim candidate. When the party nominated Mallikarjun, the trio allegedly distanced themselves from the campaign.
Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president DK Shivakumar said that Ahmed has been given a specific task during the by-poll. “The party has instructed Nazir to go to the Davangere South Assembly constituency and force the rebel candidate to withdraw. He has failed to fulfill this responsibility. I am yet to receive a report on what happened there,” he said.
The disciplinary action follows a series of developments within the party. Abdul-Jabbar resigned from the position of head of the Congressional Minorities Department on April 11, amid escalating tensions over the by-elections. Some lawmakers also alleged that there was a coordinated attempt by some leaders to undermine the party’s campaign as well.
Even when the decision was formalized, Ahmed received support from sections of the party workers. Groups from Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts visited his residence in Bengaluru and urged him not to resign.
Attention has also turned to Zamir Ahmed Khan, who has come under scrutiny, although no official action has been announced. Siddaramaiah summoned the minister to his residence on Tuesday. Khan told reporters: “Prime Minister Siddaramaiah asked me to come to his residence within half an hour. I will go there now.”
He later said that he was not aware of the developments surrounding Ahmed’s dismissal and Jabbar’s resignation. “I was not in Bengaluru when MLA K Abdul Jabbar resigned from the post of state president of the minority wing of the Pradesh Congress. I am not aware of Naseer Ahmed’s resignation from the post of political secretary to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah,” he said.
Speaking on the Dr Ambedkar Jayanti programme, Khan acknowledged discontent among some voters. “It is true that there was discontent among Muslims in Davangere South constituency, and it is true that there was discontent among local Muslim voters in Davangere South. They asked for a ticket, and they were upset because they did not get it. Then all our party leaders participated in the campaign to vote for candidate Samarth,” he said.
“We will definitely win the by-election for the Davangere South constituency,” he added.
Shivakumar said the action was based on internal assessments. “Discipline is very important in any party. We chose the candidate after gaining everyone’s trust. Then we were in constant contact with all the leaders. The prime minister took a decision based on the reports of our leaders,” he said. When asked if further disciplinary measures would follow, he said: “I have no information about this matter.”
