Siddaramaiah sacks his political secy, pulls up Zameer

SLUG: CONG D'GERE QUAGMIRE

Bengaluru: Chief minister Siddaramaiah removed his political secretary Naseer Ahmed and pulled up cabinet colleague B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan amid allegations of anti-party activities in the run-up to the April 9 Davanagere South assembly bypoll.

A notification from Siddaramaiah's office Monday night stated Ahmed, a member of the legislative council, was relieved as the CM's political secretary with immediate effect.



The move follows Siddaramaiah's earlier directive, asking Ahmed to resign based on a report submitted by AICC observer Abhishekh Dutt against him, MLC Abdul Jabbar and Zameer. "I had told him to resign, he may do so by evening," Siddaramaiah had said Sunday.

The CM also summoned Zameer to his residence and is learnt to have expressed displeasure over allegations that he instigated rebellion in the party. According to sources, Siddaramaiah told him that the party high command held such a view and asked him to personally explain the matter.

Zameer, though, denied any role in anti-party activities and said he had campaigned for Congress candidate Samarth Shamanur on the last day.

Three days ago, Jabbar had resigned as president of the KPCC minority cell.

Ahead of his meeting with the CM, Zameer defended himself before the media, saying he had openly sought a ticket for a candidate from the Muslim community. "'Give Davanagere to anyone (from the Muslim community)'. I said this openly in the meeting. Nothing was said behind closed doors," he said, adding that he had also suggested giving the ticket to any candidate except Jabbar and maintained that he followed the leadership's directives thereafter.

"Following the CM's direction, we went to Davanagere and held a press conference before campaigning. I instructed Congress leaders to work for Samarth. Later, responsibilities were given to Rizwan Arshad and Saleem Ahmed. So, I was not required," he said, adding: "I was in Kerala for work and later in Mumbai for three days due to ill health. We have not worked against the party."

Expressing confidence in the party's prospects in Davangere, Zameer said: "We will win 100 per cent with a good margin."

Meanwhile, deputy CM and KPCC president D K Shivakumar defended the party's decisions, stressing discipline. "If there is no discipline, nothing can function," Shivakumar said.

"We decided on the candidate after taking everyone into confidence. Every day we were in touch with various leaders. They (AICC) submitted reports, and based on that, the CM took the decision," he added.

The current imbroglio within the Congress unit in Karnataka stems from discontent within sections of minority netas in the party after it fielded Samarth Shamanur, son of mines and geology minister S S Mallikarjun and grandson of veteran MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa, whose death necessitated the bypoll. A section of Muslim netas had sought a candidate from their community in Davanagere South, which has a substantial minority population.

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TIMELINE

March 20: Meeting conducted by Randeep Surjewala and D K Shivakumar; Zameer Ahmed Khan demands Muslim candidate

March 20: Rebel Sadiq Pailwan files nomination

March 22: Cong fields Samarth Shamanur, triggering discontent in party

March 27: Siddaramaiah persuades Pailwan to withdraw

Minority leaders including Jabbar, Ahmed and Zameer stay away from campaigning

Cong netas accused of working against party candidate

April 11: MLC Abdul Jabbar resigns as KPCC minority cell chief

April 12: Siddaramaiah says he told Ahmed to resign

April 13: CM's office relieves Ahmed with immediate effect

April 14: CM pulls up Zameer over allegations of anti-party activities
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