Fresh turmoil appears to be stirring within the Karnataka Congress as senior officials allegedly supported a rival candidate in the Davangere South by-election on April 9. State minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and MLCs Naseer Ahmed and Jabbar are accused of backing SDPI candidate Afsar Kodlipete by providing financial assistance for his campaign discreetly. Party insiders have raised concerns with the Congress high command, hinting that the All India Congress Committee may take disciplinary measures against the minister and the two MLCs. The Congress has not released an official statement regarding the issue yet.
The controversy arose during the ticket distribution for the April 9 bypoll, triggered by the passing of sitting MLA and prominent Congress figure Shamanur Shivashankarappa. Vote counting is scheduled for May 4. The trio had advocated for a Muslim candidate due to the substantial minority presence in the constituency. Nevertheless, the party leadership selected Samarth Mallikarjun, the son of state minister SS Mallikarjun, as the official nominee.
Sources within the party allege that the dissatisfied trio began working against the party’s candidate by allegedly channeling Rs 10 crore to support the SDPI candidate’s campaign. If strict action is taken against Khan and the two legislators by the high command, Congress in Karnataka could face significant embarrassment. This development unfolds amidst the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar’s escalating differences over the CM’s position. With the Assembly elections looming within two years, this latest crisis is likely to complicate Congress’s bid for a consecutive term.