Minority Congress leaders on Friday claimed that the party’s campaign in the Davanagere South by-election has been weakened from within.
Some senior leaders are involved in creating a narrative that portrays the party as having “betrayed” minorities, Salim Ahmed and Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad, at a press conference in Bengaluru, alleged.
“We are saddened by the involvement of senior Congress leaders in harming the party. But the result will prove that all sects, including minorities, supported the Congress candidate,” Ahmed said, adding that internal assessments indicate a positive outcome for the party.
The Congress had nominated Samarth Mallikarjun, grandson of MLA Chamanoor Shivashankarappa, a selection that became a point of friction among sections of minority leaders who expected representation.
Rizwan Arshad said that there was an initial agreement within the party to support the candidate, following a meeting held on Eid in the presence of the senior leadership. He said: “We were all in the meeting and decided to work for the party’s candidate, but some tried to show a different face abroad, and described that as treason.”
Despite efforts to contain opposition, discontent persisted throughout the campaign. While one of the rebel candidates, Sadiq Bilawan, withdrew after the debates, several other candidates remained in the fray, including Social Democratic Party candidates and independents, further fragmenting the vote.
Radwan said that the party’s method of selecting candidates contributed to this situation. “It is true that we sought the ticket and reached a consensus before suggesting MLC Abdul Jabbar’s name. But some felt he was unpopular. That was a setback. We should have given 3 to 4 names instead of one or just asked SS Mallikarjun to choose a Muslim candidate. It was our mistake,” he said.
Questions have also been raised about the role of some senior leaders during the campaign. State Housing Minister Zamir Ahmed Khan did not participate, citing commitments in Kerala, although he later appeared briefly in Davanagere alongside SS Mallikarjun after the chief minister asked him to do so.
Radwan refused to mention the names of people believed to be involved in the alleged internal efforts against the party. “The party leadership is aware of it. They don’t need to hear it from the media. I have nothing to add,” he said.
Those familiar with the development claimed that AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala submitted a report to the leadership recommending action against three individuals – including Zamir Ahmed Khan and Legislative Council members Abdul Jabbar and Naseer Ahmed – for not campaigning.
Surjewala did not provide a response to HT’s requests for comment.
The events are unfolding simultaneously with a renewed movement within the party on leadership issues. A group of around 20 MLAs, who are seen as allied with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, are scheduled to travel to New Delhi on April 12. Led by Assembly Chief Whip Ashok Pathan, they are expected to meet AICC President Mallikarjun Karge, General Secretary KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala.
