Karnataka minister funded SDPI candidate's campaign? Bombshell audio goes viral

A leaked call purportedly captures B Zameer Ahmed Khan discussing support for the SDPI candidate in Davanagere South bypoll. The clip has revived allegations of anti-party activity inside the Karnataka Congress.

In Short

• Poll-day call allegedly discussed canvassing votes for SDPI's cooker symbol
• Zameer allegedly called the bypoll result a question of reputation
• Conversation included claims of money distribution and outreach to BJP

A fresh controversy rocked Karnataka Congress after an audio clip surfaced on social media purportedly showing Minister B Zameer Ahmed Khan backing a rival candidate against the party’s nominee in the Davanagere South Assembly bypoll, exposing the deep faultlines in the party.

The audio, allegedly of a phone conversation between Zameer and Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation (KMDC) director Mohammed Siraj on polling day, appears to show the two discussing efforts to secure votes for the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) candidate rather than the Congress contender.

The April 9 bypoll was triggered by the death of senior Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa. The Congress fielded his grandson, Samarth Shamanur Mallikarjuna, while the BJP nominated Srinivas T Dasakariyappa. The SDPI's candidate was Afsar Kodlipete.

The constituency has a sizeable Muslim electorate, and the bypoll was marred by allegations that sections of Congress leaders were unhappy with the party's decision not to field a Muslim candidate.

Zameer, along with Congress MLCs Naseer Ahmed and Abdul Jabbar, had faced accusations during the campaign of covertly supporting the SDPI candidate and allegedly helping fund his campaign. The leaders denied wrongdoing at the time.

The leaked audio clip paints an entirely different picture. In it, Zameer allegedly tells Siraj that the outcome of the bypoll is a "question of my reputation" and says he has been suffering "sleepless nights" over the contest.

When Zameer asks how polling is progressing, Siraj succinctly says "Cooker. Only cooker", a reference to the SDPI candidate's poll symbol.

"We have only asked vote for cooker, vote only for cooker," Siraj is heard saying.

The conversation then turns to turnout figures. Zameer expresses concern that Muslim voter participation is lagging.

"Till 12:30 pm only 9 per cent Muslim voting has happened out of 27 per cent," he complains.

As the discussion shifts to mobilising more voters, Zameer remarks that the Congress is allegedly distributing money near polling booths.

Siraj replies, "They haven't spent as much as you have for cooker."

In another explosive portion of the clip, Siraj claims he met the BJP candidate, whom he refers to as "Seena", and sought his help to sabotage the Congress.

"I told him, 'depute your people, make it difficult for Congress'," Siraj says, adding that the BJP candidate replied: "I will do it boss."

The audio ends with Siraj assuring Zameer that he will deliver the desired outcome.

The clip has revived allegations of anti-party activity against Zameer, once considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's closest political aides.

Ahead of the bypoll, Zameer had strongly backed Congress leader Abdul Jabbar for the ticket. However, the party leadership eventually chose Samarth Shamanur Mallikarjuna, a move that reportedly triggered resentment among some Muslim leaders.

The disagreement also became a point of friction between Siddaramaiah and Zameer. In a sign of the leadership's concerns, Zameer was reportedly sidelined from campaign management in Davanagere, while Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad and MLC Saleem Ahmed were deployed to oversee efforts for the party candidate.

Despite the internal unrest, Congress retained the seat, with Samarth Shamanur Mallikarjuna emerging victorious.

The fallout, however, continued after the election. Abdul Jabbar resigned as chairman of the Congress Minority Department in the state unit, and party sources said disciplinary action against Zameer was being considered.

- Ends