Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday sacked his political secretary, Naseer Ahmed, amid allegations that the latter worked against the ruling Congress in the April 9 by-election to the Davangere South Assembly seat.
The Department of State Personnel and Administrative Reform said that Ahmed had been “removed from his position with immediate effect.” People familiar with the matter said that Ahmed’s refusal to resign led to his dismissal.
Siddaramaiah ordered the dismissal on the instructions of the Congress high command after indicating that Ahmed’s exit was imminent, people familiar with the matter said.
The dismissal came amid complaints that some MSP leaders did not support the party’s candidate in Davangere South.
Ahmed, State Minister BZ Zamir Ahmed Khan and former MP Abdul Jabbar are believed to have pushed for a Muslim candidate. The three allegedly distanced themselves from the campaign and supported rival candidates, including from the Social Democratic Party of India, when the Congress fielded Samarth Mallikarjun, son of state minister SS Mallikarjun.
Jabbar, who had sought the ticket and was said to have Khan’s support, resigned from his post as chief of the state Congress’ minority division last week. Khan is also said to be under scrutiny and may be excluded from the Cabinet.
Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar is also believed to have been in favor of taking action against those accused of anti-party behaviour. Some lawmakers alleged that a concerted effort was being made to undermine the Congress by-election candidate.
A group of Muslim Congress workers visited Ahmed’s residence on Monday and appealed to him not to step down.
Ahmed’s predecessor, Congress leader K Govindaraj, was sacked in June 2025 after a stampede outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium left 11 people dead.
