Hebbal bypoll: Zameer's man quits, retracts

BENGALURU: JD (S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda’s problems with minorities are escalating with Shakeel Ahamed Nawaz, president of minorities’ wing of the state unit of the party, quitting his post a day after the leader launched a broadside against former minister and party legislator B Z Zameer Ahamed Khan for his tacit support to Congress candidate Abdul Rahaman Khan in Hebbal Assembly constituency.

A diehard supporter of Mr Zameer Ahamed Khan, Mr Shakeel Ahamed Nawaz sent his resignation letter to Mr Gowda on Wednesday and subsequently confirmed his decision to quit to Deccan Chronicle. “I was pained the way our leader was coloured, and there is no point in continuing as president of the minorities’ wing,” he added.

Sources close to Mr Zameer Ahamed Khan traced the root of the problem to the day when Mr Gowda took a decision to field a candidate for the bypoll to Hebbal seat. The first choice was one of Mr Zameer Ahamed Khan's family members, but the legislator declined the offer. He also quoted a public statement made by state unit president, H.D. Kumaraswamy, and had suggested not to field a candidate in any of the three constituencies going to polls on February 13.

Though the name of Mr Byrathi Basavaraj was doing the rounds for Hebbal, Mr Zameer Ahamed resisted the move to field any minority candidate in that Assembly segment. The candidature of Mr Ismail Sharief, however, was announced by Mr Gowda. At the same time, Congress fielded Mr Rahim Khan in Bidar while JD (S) took a decision to give the ticket to former Congressman Mr Ayaz Khan. “This created a feeling among minorities that JD(S) was helping BJP win the by-polls, and there was also pressure on Mr Zameer Ahamed not to involve himself in the campaign. From party leaders, there were no proper directions as to what he should do. Mr Zameer Ahamed stayed away from election activities. Only after Mr Gowda's outburst, Mr Zameer Ahamed realised that the situation had taken a serious turn,” sources added.

When contacted, Mr Zameer Ahamed declined to comment on the resignation as well as charges levelled against him by Mr Gowda.