Karnataka bypolls: Zameer Ahmed Khan succedes in convincing rebel candidate Ajjam Khadri to withdraw from Shiggaon

BENGALURU: Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 26 (ANI): Karnataka Housing and Minorities Welfare Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan has successfully persuaded Ajjam Peer Khadri, who had filed his nomination as a rebel candidate for the Shiggaon by-election, to withdraw from the race.

On Thursday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge approved the candidature of Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan as the party’s candidate for the Shiggaon constituency in the upcoming Legislative Assembly bypolls in Karnatakam prompting independent MLA Ajjam Peer Khadri to file nomination as independent candidate.

Khan, along with Chief Minister’s political secretary Naseer Ahmed, Legislative Council member Abdul Jabbar, former Waqf Board chairman Anwar Basha, and Dharwad Anjuman president Ismail Tamatgar, brought Kadri from Shiggavi to Bengaluru late Friday night.

On Saturday, Khadri was introduced to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

During the discussions, Khadri was assured of a suitable political position in the future. It is almost certain that Khadri will withdraw his nomination on October 30.

Khadri told in a press conference that after speaking with his supporters and admirers, he would work hard to ensure the Congress’s victory.

“The party is my priority. I have agreed to the words of Siddaramaiah, D.K. Shivakumar, Zameer Ahmed Khan, and Naseer Ahmed,” Khadri said.
Naseer Ahmed, MLA NAHarris, and Ismail Tamatgar were also present at the press conference.

Notably, the Congress party has named CP Yogeshwara, who joined Congress on Wednesday after resigning as the BJP MLC on Monday, as their candidate for Channapatna, and E Annapurna, wife of Bellary MP E Tukaram, for Sandur.

Meanwhile, the NDA on Thursday fielded JD(S) State Youth Unit President Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Union Minister and Karnataka JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy, as their candidate for the upcoming Channapatna bypoll.

The byelections in Karnataka are scheduled for November 13, alongside 47 assembly constituencies and the Wayanad parliamentary seat in Kerala, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The counting of votes will take place on November 23. (ANI)