Minority Cell Of KPCC Dissolved, Disciplinary Action Likely Against More Minority Leaders

BENGALURU: The Minority Cell Committee attached to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee was on Sunday dissolved by president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The dissolution order came into immediate effect; however, he did not specify the reason for the step to dissolve the Minority Cell Committee. In a press note here, Shivakumar stated to constitute a new Committee. Meanwhile, the KPCC president stated he approved the resignation tendered by Abdul Jabbar who was the Chairman of KPCC Minority Cell. Abdul Jabbar, also a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) tendered resignation on Saturday. The dissolution of Minority Cell Committee by Shivakumar was after general secretaries of KPCC Minority Cell –Abdul Ghani Tahir, Noor Ahmed and Hussian Uttadagatri resigned to their posts over resignation tendered by Abdul Jabbar and fearing backlash from more Minority leaders, the president of KPCC reportedly decided to dissolve the Minority Cell and initiate steps to reconstitute the Committee. A miffed Abdul Jabbar stated he tendered resignation voluntarily after some senior party leaders doubted his integrity especially with regard to Davangere South Assembly seat by-poll campaign. Abdul Jabbar sought a ticket to fight Davangere South Assembly seat by-poll the seat fell vacant after the demise of incumbent MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa in last December. However, the party fielded Samarth Mallikarjun, grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa. Davangere South Assembly seat is dominated by Minority community voters who form an estimated 80,000 votes out of 2 lakh. Minority leaders against fielding Samarath Mallikarjun citing that his father S.S. Mallikarjun is a Minister holding Mines and Geology portfolio and his mother Prabha Mallikarjun, a Lok Sabha member representing Davangere seat. Minority leaders wanted the party to field a nominee outside the family of Shamanur Shivashankarappa. Abdul Jabbar refrained from campaigning for the party nominee and it is alleged Jabbar and some other Minority leaders strived for the success of an independent nominee (Afsar Kodlipete of Social Democratic Party of India). Party sources said MLC Naseer Ahmed has been directed by senior party leaders to resign from the post while Minister of Housing Zameer Ahmed Khan would be axed from the ministry over both the leaders not engaging themselves wholeheartedly in the campaigning for Samarth Mallikarjun. The counting of votes for Davangere South Assembly seat by-poll will be held on May 4.



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