CM’s political secretary Naseer Ahmed ‘asked’ to quit

The fallout over the alleged anti-party activities by some Muslim leaders of Congress in the Davangere South Assembly seat that went to bypolls on April 9, is beginning to surface. A day after KPCC Minority Cell chairman Abdul Jabbar tendered his resignation after apparently being asked to do so by the party central leadership, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s political secretary Naseer Ahmed is learnt to have been asked to step down.

Two Muslim leaders, along with Housing Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan — who had lobbied strongly for a Muslim candidate in Davangere South — are being accused of not taking part in the election campaign, threatening the election outcome for Congress’s official nominee, Samarth Mallikarjun. Mr. Jabbar was an aspirant of the Congress ticket for Davangere and was in the eye of the storm over his conduct in the run-up to the polls. Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) sources said that there could be no action against Mr. Zameer immediately.