Karnataka bypolls: Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan begins campaign in Davangere

Housing, Minority Welfare, and Waqf Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, who had stayed away from the Davangere South bypoll campaign, arrived in the city to campaign for Samarth Mallikarjun, the Congress nominee, on Sunday.

He visited the Shamanur family home where he was welcomed by Horticulture Minister S.S. Mallikarjun, his wife and MP Prabha Mallikarjun, and others.

Later, Mr. Khan and Mr. Mallikarjun held a joint press conference. Mr. Khan said he harboured no ill will towards the Shamanur family, Mr. Mallikarjun or his son.

“Mr. Mallikarjun may have said something like we do not need Mr. Khan here to campaign for us in Davangere. He may have said it in anger or jest. I think it is natural. I might say the same thing if he is to come to my constituency of Chamarajpet. But I do not take such things to heart. I have no ill will against him or his family. I will campaign for the Congress candidate seriously,” he said.

Mr. Khan said he had flown from Kerala to Hubballi and driven from there directly to Davangere. “I was in charge of the campaign in 10 districts in Kerala. I came here on the instructions of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah,” Mr. Khan said.

He said that the reason he didn’t campaign in Davangere till now was that he was the Congress’ star campaigner in Kerala and had to travel to several constituencies there. “It is nothing to do with me being upset,” he said. “Mr. Mallikarjun and I are old friends. We are on very good terms,” he said.

“When I came to Davangere a few months ago, the Muslim community demanded a ticket for the byelection. I promised that I would bring this to the notice of our high command. This created some confusion. Naturally, when the ticket was given to Mr. Samarth, some people got upset. There are still four days left for voting. We will fix everything,” he said in response to a query.

“It is the usual practice of the Congress that when ever a public representative dies, the ticket is given to the family on compassionate grounds. The Muslim community leaders have sought a ticket for the 2028 Assembly elections. We are all members of the Congress family. We will sit and discuss what is best in the interest of the party,” he said.

He said he would convince MLC Abdul Jabbar, who was reportedly feeling left out, to join the campaign. “In the 2023 elections, there were 13 Muslim candidates from Davangere South. However, the votes they got together did not cross even 3,000. It so happens in elections that not everyone who contests will get votes. But still, I will try to convince the Muslim candidates in the fray to support the Congress,” Mr. Khan said.

Mr. Mallikarjun said that there was no confusion in the party about any issue and that the campaign was being carried out effectively.