Abdul Jabbar, a Congress MLC, has become the first notable figure to resign amid internal conflicts among minority community leaders regarding the candidate selection for the Davanagere South Assembly seat, where elections occurred on April 9. There is growing speculation that Naseer Ahmed, the chief minister’s political secretary and fellow MLC, may also be asked to resign.
On Sunday, following Jabbar’s resignation as president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Minority Cell on April 3, state Congress leader D K Shivakumar formally accepted the resignation. In a statement, Shivakumar announced, “The Minority Cell committee established under Abdul Jabbar will be dissolved immediately, and efforts will be made to form a new committee shortly.”
Although Jabbar’s resignation occurred on April 3, the Congress party had kept it confidential, likely due to concerns over potential backlash in the Davanagere South constituency, where minority voters represent over a third of the electorate.
Internal divisions among Congress minority leaders regarding the candidate for Davanagere South have been evident since March. A faction led by Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan had advocated for a Muslim candidate but failed to sway the party, which ultimately selected Samarth Mallikarjun, a newcomer and grandson of former MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa. This decision sparked protests from some Congress Muslim voters.
Jabbar, who had aspirations to run from the constituency, expressed his dissatisfaction with this choice. Additionally, Zameer has reportedly not campaigned actively in the area, further fueling rumors of discontent among leaders who feel marginalized in a constituency where Muslim representation is feasible.
On Friday, tensions surfaced publicly as Congress legislators Saleem Ahmed and Rizwan Arshad held a press conference, accusing certain minority leaders of attempting to undermine the party’s chances in Davanagere South. Ahmed claimed that “senior Congress leaders” were acting against the party’s interests, despite an initial consensus on Samarth’s candidacy.
This situation did not sit well with Jabbar, who responded critically to the accusations from his peers. He made his resignation letter available to the media, stating, “Minority voters and office bearers are the backbone of our esteemed Congress party, and the community undoubtedly deserves better.”
In subsequent remarks to journalists, Jabbar suggested that some individuals were manipulating minority leaders to oppose him within the Congress framework. He expressed disappointment at the allegations from fellow community leaders.
The implications of Jabbar’s resignation have led to speculation regarding the future of other leaders, including Khan and Naseer Ahmed. Sources within the party indicate that all three are under scrutiny for alleged anti-party activities, including claims of financial support for a candidate from the Social Democratic Party of India. Discussions between the Congress high command and state leadership are ongoing, with potential disciplinary measures anticipated.
After Jabbar’s departure, it appears that Naseer Ahmed may also face pressure to resign, while the situation for Minister Khan remains uncertain. Tensions within the party escalated soon after Mallikarjun was named the candidate, prompting local leader Sadiq Pahilwan to submit his nomination as a rebel candidate before being persuaded to withdraw.
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