Bengaluru, Apr 15 (PTI) Karnataka Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan on Wednesday asserted that he was in Kerala not “for fun”, but to campaign for the party in the Assembly polls there on the instructions of the high command, as he rejected allegations of an internal “conspiracy” to defeat the party candidate in the Davanagere South bypoll.
He also ruled out any discussion regarding action against him within the party, terming such reports a media creation.
The minister’s statement followed the Congress suspending MLC K Abdul Jabbar from the party’s primary membership and relieving another MLC Naseer Ahmed from the post of Chief Minister’s political secretary. The action came after a group of Muslim leaders accused members of their own party of “conspiracy” to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
Khan, Ahmed and Jabbar wanted a Muslim to get the bypoll ticket in Davanagere South, which was given to the late MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s grandson Samarth Mallikarjun.
“I have said this earlier too. I was named star campaigner by AICC for Kerala polls till April 7, but Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced that I would come campaigning for bypolls on April 5. So, I requested AICC general secretary K C Venugopl and came for campaigning. I campaigned in Davanagere South on April 5 and in Bagalkot on April 6 and 7,” Khan said, responding to allegations that he did not participate properly in the by-election campaigning.
Speaking to reporters here, he said those who have made allegations have not taken any names, let them name.
“I have fulfilled the responsibility given to me by the party like a disciplined soldier. I did not go to Kerala for fun. I was given eight districts as a star campaigner…what work was I doing in Kerala? Wasn’t it a high command or party job,” he asked.
Following action against Jabbar and Naseer Ahmed, speculation is that Khan may also face action during the next cabinet rejig.
Clarifying that the party had not discussed taking any action against him, the minister said he spent over an hour-and-a-half with the CM on Tuesday and the matter did not come up for any discussion.
“If anybody has to take such a decision, it should be taken by the high command and the CM, but no such thing. I’m seeing only in the media that — the next target is Zameer,” he added.
A rift surfaced within the Karnataka Congress on April 10, a day after bypolls to two Assembly constituencies, when a group of Muslim leaders alleged an “internal conspiracy” by some senior party leaders to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South, where the minority community has a significant presence.
They said the party named Samarth Mallikarjun as the candidate after considering all factors and taking Muslim leaders into confidence. Despite this, a campaign–allegedly involving some within the party–projected the Congress as having “betrayed” minorities by denying them the ticket.
The Chief Whip in the Legislative Council, Saleem Ahmed, MLAs Rizwan Arshad and Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, MLC Bilkis Bano and other leaders addressed a joint press conference on Friday, alleging an “internal conspiracy”.
Though the leaders did not name anyone, party sources said their remarks were directed at Zameer Ahmed Khan, Jabbar, and Naseer Ahmed.
Khan, who had openly demanded the Davanagere South ticket for a Muslim candidate, initially stayed away from campaigning in the constituency, citing commitments related to the Kerala polls. However, he later addressed a press meet with Samarth’s father and Minister S S Mallikarjun at the request of CM Siddaramaiah.
Jabbar, who hails from Davanagere, and Naseer Ahmed had not actively participated in campaigning. There are some reports alleging that the leaders even helped the SDPI candidate in the bypolls.
Khan noted that AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, CM Siddaramaiah or KPCC president D K Shivakumar should have questioned him if he had done anything wrong. He further asked, “Have they said anything (against me)? What others say doesn’t have any meaning.” Claiming that he was a normal party worker and had not grown to the level of competing with others for Muslim leadership in the party, he said, “There are no such differences in the party.” Khan said that he was not aware why Jabbar had been suspended from the party.
“He (Jabbar) had resigned voluntarily from the post of Minority department chief. I got to know about the suspension, I will check,” he said.
Regarding Naseer Ahmed being relieved from the post of political secretary to the CM, he said, “He has been removed (from the post). I visited his residence and tried to comfort him as he is very upset. He is a senior leader. I’m also hurt by this decision.” Asked whether he will be meeting the high command over the developments, Khan said he has met the CM and will also meet state Congress President D K Shivakumar who is in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) to campaign for Assembly polls there. “Will have to tell leaders that the developments are not good.” PTI KSU KH
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