Davanagere By-Poll Row: Muslim Clerics Accuse Congress of Double Standards
Religious leaders and civil groups question action against minority leaders, allege bias in party decisions
A political controversy has emerged in Karnataka following the Davanagere South by-election, with Muslim clerics and civil society groups accusing the Indian National Congress of adopting a double standard in dealing with its leaders.
The criticism comes after the party removed Naseer Ahmed from his post as political secretary to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and suspended MLC Abdul Jabbar from primary membership over alleged anti party activities during the by-poll.
At a press conference in Bengaluru on April 16, several religious scholars said the party acted without following due process. They argued that neither leader was issued a show cause notice or given an opportunity to explain their position before action was taken.
Mufti Iftekhar Ahmed Qasimi stated that if the party believed the leaders had worked against its official candidate, it should have conducted a fair inquiry. He also pointed to past instances where, according to him, no action was taken against senior leaders for similar conduct.
One such example cited was the late Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who was alleged to have supported B Y Raghavendra during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Clerics claimed that no disciplinary steps were taken in that case, raising questions about consistency.
Responding to his suspension, Abdul Jabbar also expressed disappointment, saying he was not informed about the basis of the action and was denied a chance to respond.
Other religious and community leaders echoed similar concerns. Maulana Shabeer Ahmed Nadvi alleged that party workers had supported opposition candidates in several constituencies during the 2023 Assembly elections without facing any consequences.
The issue has also reignited concerns about Muslim representation within the party. Leaders said they had earlier requested the Congress to field a Muslim candidate from the Davanagere South seat due to the significant minority population, but the ticket was instead given to Samarth Mallikarjun, grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
Critics argued that the decision reflects a pattern of favouring political families. They pointed out that members of the same family already hold key positions, including S S Mallikarjun and Prabha Mallikarjun.
Community leaders also expressed frustration over unfulfilled promises made by the Congress during the 2023 elections, including issues related to reservations, the hijab controversy, and legal reforms.
Civil society group Eddelu Karnataka also criticised the party, accusing it of prioritising family influence, caste, and money over fairness. The group termed the action against minority leaders as unjust and called on the leadership, including Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, to reflect on their approach.
The controversy has added a new dimension to the political discourse in Karnataka, raising questions about internal party democracy, representation, and fairness in decision making.