On Tuesday, Siddaramaiah sacked his political secretary, Naseer Ahmed, as infighting raged in the Indian National Congress in Karnataka. The step comes after Ahmed was accused of collaborating with the official candidate of the party against the official candidate in the April 9 by election in Davangere South.
The state personnel and administration reforms department indicated that Ahmed was relieved the post with immediate effect. According to sources, the sack was made after he declined to step down voluntarily following pressure by the leadership of the party. It is said that the decision by Siddaramaiah was arrived at on the directions of the Congress high command which had indicated that his ousting was in the offing.
The scandal is related to internal disputes concerning the choice of candidates. A number of leaders such as B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, former legislator Abdul Jabbar, and others were reportedly dissatisfied with the party over the decision to offer Samarth Mallikarjun the son of state minister S S Mallikarjun. Some leaders are accused of dissociating themselves with the campaign and even indirectly funding its opponents, such as the Social Democratic Party of India.
The scenario has brought in more splits in the party, especially in areas of the Muslim leadership in the state. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is also considered to have supported the severe action against those who are accused of anti-party activities.
In the meantime, the situation is not very calm, and party employees are encouraging Ahmed not to resign. The episode shows continuous factional wrangles in the Karnataka Congress in light of impending electoral challenges.