BENGALURU: With Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reluctant to back under fire Muslim leaders and MLCs, Naseer Ahmed and K Abdul Jabbar, PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who is aspiring to become KPCC president, has stepped in to control damage.
Naseer was sacked as CM’s political secretary. Jabbar was suspended from the party after having been made to resign as KPCC minority cell chief. Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president DK Shivakumar’s camp is now anticipating action against Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. All this is in the backdrop of alleged anti-party activities during the byelection in Davanagere South.
Once the bypoll results are declared on May 4, Jarkiholi, Social Welfare Minister Dr HC Mahadevappa and former minister KN Rajanna are likely to meet AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal and LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi and apprise them of the ‘harsh’ action against the minority leaders that could damage party’s prospects in the 2028 Karnataka Assembly polls, sources said.
Siddaramaiah is said to have suggested to Zameer to explain to the party high command his alleged anti-party activities to defeat Samarth Shamanur, son of Horticulture Minister SS Mallikarjun.
Jarkiholi and Mahadevappa had a breakfast meeting with Zameer and discussed strategy, a source said. “Zameer along with Siddaramaiah’s son Dr Yathindra has been reiterating that Siddaramaiah will continue as CM for five years and his interest should be safeguarded,” a Congress leader said.
The disciplinary action against the Muslim leaders has been interpreted as a setback to the CM’s camp. Shivakumar had ensured that a report against the leaders reached the high command through AICC secretary state in-charge Abhishek Dutt. There was evidence against Jabbar over alleged anti-party activities, but not against Naseer and Zameer, say sources.
Meanwhile, Rajanna said he never expected Siddaramaiah would be helpless in safeguarding his loyalists. Rajanna was dismissed from the cabinet for criticising Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ campaign. The CM had promised Rajanna and former minister B Nagendra that he would bring them back to the cabinet after convincing Venugopal, say sources. They say that Rajanna was in touch with Holenarasipura MLA HD Revanna, the son of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, with a plan to join JDS ahead of the 2028 assembly polls.
Siddaramaiah on Saturday told reporters that he spoke to Rajanna.
Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said Siddaramaiah became helpless a long time ago, but Rajanna is realising it only now.
Mahadevappa, however, said, “When was the CM helpless? He has always been tough. When angry, the ‘tagaru’ (ram) head-butts. Rajanna, out of love for the CM, said he should be firm. The CM knows what to do and when to do and punches whenever he wants,” he said.