Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed displeasure towards ex-minister Zameer Ahmad Khan, accusing him of betrayal during the Davanagere South by-election. Siddaramaiah’s reaction came after Zameer’s supporters requested a cabinet position for him, despite Zameer allegedly working against Siddaramaiah in the bypoll, as seen in a viral video circulating on social media.
The incident occurred amidst ongoing demands by Zameer’s supporters for his inclusion in the Karnataka cabinet. The exclusion of Zameer from the initial cabinet expansion phase has been perceived as a setback for the Chamarajpet MLA, amid active lobbying for cabinet roles in the new government. Former Speaker U.T. Khader has already been appointed as the Health Minister.
The disagreement stemmed from the Davanagere South by-election, where the Congress fielded Samarth Mallikarjun, leading to opposition from some sections of the Muslim community. Zameer advocated for a Muslim leader’s candidature, which was met with criticism from Samarth Mallikarjun’s father, former minister S.S. Mallikarjun, who advised Zameer to focus on his own constituency.
