Karnataka Congress MLC Suspended for Anti-Party Activities

The Congress party fears its Minority leaders have dented the winning chances of its nominee in Davangere by-poll and embarked upon disciplinary steps against them. Minority leaders were against fielding a family member of S.S. Mallikarjun. The voting was held on April 9 and counting will be held on May 4.

Earlier, Abdul Jabbar resigned as Chairman of Minority Cell Committee attached to KPCC after allegations of him indulging in anti-party activities were made. Jabbar, citing he was hurt over the allegations, stated his resignation was a voluntary decision.

President of KPCC D.K. Shivakumar, after Abdul Jabbar resigned as Chairman of Minority Cell, dissolved the Minority Cell to re-constitute later. On Tuesday, Chief Minister’s Political Secretary Naseer Ahmed, a MLC, was sacked from the post alleging Naseer of working against the interest of the party in Davangere by-poll.

The grouse among the Minority leaders is that their wish to field a Muslim candidate to fight the Davangere by-poll was turned down by party high command. The other reason for Minority leaders' aversion was over Congress high command fielding Samarth Mallikarjun, son of Minister of Mines and Geology S.S. Mallikarjun. Mallikarjun's wife Prabha is the Lok Sabha member representing Davangere parliamentary seat.

Minority leaders contended that Muslims constituted majority voters in Davangere South Seat to give a minority nominee an edge over rivals. It is alleged Minority leaders backed the candidature of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) Afsar Kodlipete who is said to have a better chance of winning the seat against rivals nominees of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress party.