Davanagere South: Grandson’s victory with reduced margin in Shamanur bastion matter of concern

While the ruling Congress candidate and Lingayat strongman Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s grandson and Minister S.S. Mallikarjun’s son Samarth Shamanur Mallikarjun has managed to retain the family’s bastion Davangere South Constituency in the byelection, the reduced margin would compel the party to introspect on the reasons in the days to come.

The persistent demand for Muslim representation in Davangere South, coupled with insistence of the Shamanur family for a  ticket, resulted in the Congress taking more time to finalise the candidate. While there was rebellion pre-polls, post-polls, there was disciplinary action against a few Muslim leaders for alleged anti-party activities. Chief Minister Siddaramiah fired his political secretary Naseer Ahmed and KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar suspended the primary membership of MLC Abdul Jabbar.