Congress Divided! Lingayat (Hindu) vs Muslim Leaders Lock Horns Over Davangere Ticket
Samarth Shamanur, the grandson of senior Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, submitted his nomination prior to the party's official announcement of its candidate.
Bengaluru: The Congress party in Karnataka is embroiled in a significant internal power struggle as it prepares for the upcoming Davangere South bypoll. A clear divide has emerged between Lingayat and minority leaders regarding ticket allocation, intensifying the controversy surrounding candidate nominations.
The situation escalated when Samarth Shamanur, the grandson of senior Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, submitted his nomination prior to the party’s official announcement of its candidate. This premature move has drawn sharp criticism from various party members, who deemed it inappropriate without an official party B-form.
ಪೂಜ್ಯ ಮಾವನವರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಶಾಮನೂರು ಶಿವಶಂಕರಪ್ಪಾಜಿಯವರ ಆಶೀರ್ವಾದ ಹಾಗೂ ಅವರ ಆಶಯದಂತೆ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಜನರ ಅಪಾರ ಬೆಂಬಲ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರೇರಣೆಯಿಂದ ದಾವಣಗೆರೆ ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ವಿಧಾನಸಭಾ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಿಂದ ಸ್ಪರ್ಧಿಸಲು ನಮ್ಮ ಪುತ್ರ ಸಮರ್ಥ್ ಶಾಮನೂರು ಅವರು ತಮ್ಮ ನಾಮಪತ್ರವನ್ನು ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದರು.
— Prabha Mallikarjun (@DrPrabhaSSM) March 20, 2026
ಈ ಮಹತ್ವದ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಹಿರಿಯ ನಾಯಕರು, ಯುವ… pic.twitter.com/UPNNGuUx7v
During a heated meeting at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office, party in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala was made aware of the growing dissent. Minority leaders, including Zameer Ahmed Khan, Rahim Khan, Salim Ahmed, and Tanveer Sait, voiced strong objections, questioning the legitimacy of a nomination filed without party approval.
Sources indicate that Surjewala acknowledged the concerns, labeling the early nomination as “not correct” and recognizing the difficult position it has placed the party high command in.
Minority leaders argue that due to the substantial Muslim voter base in Davangere South, the ticket should be awarded to a candidate from their community to ensure electoral success. Some leaders have even threatened to take drastic measures if their demands are overlooked.
Conversely, Lingayat leaders within the Congress have rallied behind Samarth Shamanur, highlighting the Shamanur family’s long-standing contributions to the party in Davangere. Leaders such as Eshwar Khandre and CS Nadagouda defended the family’s claim, asserting that the party should not depend solely on any single community’s vote bank.
ದಾವಣಗೆರೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಬಾಗಲಕೋಟೆ ವಿಧಾನಸಭಾ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳ ಉಪ ಚುನಾವಣೆಗೆ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಅಭ್ಯರ್ಥಿ ಆಯ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಎಐಸಿಸಿ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿಗಳಾದ @rssurjewala ಅವರು ಕೆಪಿಸಿಸಿ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ @DKShivakumar ಹಾಗೂ ಸಿಎಂ @siddaramaiah ಅವರ ಜತೆ ಶುಕ್ರವಾರ ಚರ್ಚೆ ನಡೆಸಿದರು. ಎಐಸಿಸಿ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ಅಭಿಷೇಕ್ ದತ್ ಅವರು ಇದ್ದರು. pic.twitter.com/QbNFTQJ6T7
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) March 20, 2026
They also argued that in cases where seats become vacant under exceptional circumstances, prioritizing family candidates is a justified political strategy.
These developments have transformed the Davangere South bypoll into a complex challenge for the Congress high command, which must navigate community dynamics while striving for internal unity. With both Lingayat and minority factions firmly asserting their claims, the final decision on the ticket will be pivotal not only for electoral prospects but also for maintaining party cohesion in Karnataka.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: ದಾವಣಗೆರೆ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ಟಿಕೆಟ್ ಯುದ್ಧ: ಹಿಂದೂ (ಲಿಂಗಾಯತ) vs ಮುಸ್ಲಿಂ ಮುಖಾಮುಖಿ!
Also Read: AICC Picks Samarth Shamanur: Davangere Congress Rift Deepens Amid Lingayat–Muslim Power Struggle
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