Overview
- The Karnataka Congress suspended MLC Abdul Jabbar on Wednesday for anti-party activity tied to the Davangere South bypoll, with state party chief D. K. Shivakumar announcing the order.
- Naseer Ahmed, the chief minister’s political secretary, was relieved by a Monday order dated April 13 after allegations he failed to back the official nominee and declined to resign when asked.
- Housing and Minorities Minister B. Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan remains under scrutiny and rejects the charges, saying he campaigned as instructed and was sent to Kerala by the party leadership.
- Reports citing internal AICC findings and state intelligence allege some Congress leaders backed or funded the Social Democratic Party of India candidate to split minority votes, a claim reported by sources that lacks public independent verification.
- The actions follow a ticket fight in a constituency with a large Muslim electorate and add to churn in the Chief Minister’s Office, which news reports say has seen five high-profile exits in about 10 months.