Congress Minority Leaders in Davanagere Threaten Mass Resignation Over Alleged Sidelining
Tension has escalated within the Congress party's minority leadership in Davanagere, with multiple office-bearers from both the KPCC minority unit and the Congress district minority unit gearing up for a collective resignation. This dramatic move stems from allegations that senior party leader and Legislative Council member K Abdul Jabbar has been systematically sidelined and treated unfairly by the party's higher echelons.
Discontent Brewing After By-Election
KPCC minority unit vice-president Mohammad Siraj revealed that the developments following the south assembly constituency by-election have left minority leaders deeply disillusioned. According to Siraj, Jabbar, a veteran who has dedicated four decades to the party, was conspicuously excluded from campaigning for the Congress candidate, despite his significant influence in the constituency. This perceived neglect reportedly prompted Jabbar to resign as KPCC minority unit president on April 3, a decision that was initially kept under wraps to avoid impacting the by-election.
Siraj lauded Jabbar's five-year tenure as Minority unit president, emphasizing that his contributions were instrumental in the Congress's return to power in 2023. He further alleged that legitimate demands for minority representation in constituencies with substantial minority voter bases are being misrepresented, and there are now concerted efforts to politically isolate Jabbar in the aftermath of the bypoll.
List of Leaders Planning to Resign
The group of leaders poised to tender their resignations includes:
- Mohammad Siraj, KPCC minority unit vice-president
- Abdul Ghani Tahir, secretary
- Hussain Ukkadagatri, secretary
- Ubaidulla Attar, secretary
- A Abdul Jabbar, district minority unit working president
- Asif Junaidi, general secretary
These resignations are expected to be formally submitted to Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President DK Shivakumar, signaling a significant internal rift within the party's minority wing.
Historical Discord and Blame Game
Siraj also pointed to a longstanding discord between Mines and Geology minister SS Mallikarjun and Jabbar, tracing its origins back to 2013, though the precise reasons remain unclear. He asserted that this rift has been exploited by others over the years, exacerbating the current tensions.
Meanwhile, KPCC minority unit secretary Abdul Ghani Tahir accused the party leadership of attempting to scapegoat Jabbar for the failures in the by-election. Tahir warned that this controversy raises serious doubts about the Congress's commitment to social justice and could have detrimental effects on the party's prospects in future elections.
The unfolding situation highlights growing internal strife within the Congress in Davanagere, with minority leaders expressing frustration over perceived marginalization and calling for greater accountability from the party leadership.
