Bengaluru, March 27 (NationPress) The Congress party, currently in power in Karnataka, initiated damage control in the Davanagere South Assembly constituency on Friday by persuading rebel candidate Sadiq Pylwan to step back from the electoral race and support the party's official nominee.

Although the deadline for withdrawing nominations passed on March 26, Sadiq will still remain on the ballot but is committed to aiding the Congress party.

D.K. Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President, extended an invitation to Sadiq Pylwan, the dissident candidate from Davanagere South, to his official residence in Kumara Park, Bengaluru, with the help of party leaders MLA Rizwan Arshad and Legislative Council Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed. After productive discussions, he managed to convince Sadiq to withdraw from the race.

Sadiq, who had submitted his nomination as an independent candidate for the Davanagere bye-election, also met with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah alongside his supporters at Vidhana Soudha and agreed to assist the Congress party candidate.

Addressing the media with Sadiq present, Shivakumar stated, “Our legislators Rizwan Arshad and Saleem Ahmed were tasked with engaging Sadiq Pylwan, who expressed dissatisfaction over the ticket allocation to Samarth Mallikarjun, the grandson of the late veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa.”

“Under the guidance of the Chief Minister and myself, Rizwan and Saleem managed to convince him. I know his entire family well; his son and brother have held significant positions, and we had a conversation with him. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also reached out to him on Thursday night,” he added.

“Today, he has shown up as promised, and I am optimistic that he will contribute to the party's success. We also have a duty to ensure his advancement. He has not made any demands; his sole focus is on securing the Congress party's victory,” Shivakumar remarked.

MLA Rizwan Arshad and MLC Saleem Ahmed had previously visited Sadiq’s home in Davanagere on Thursday, requesting him to withdraw his nomination. However, their initial attempts did not yield results. Eventually, Sadiq was brought to meet both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, leading to a successful resolution of the conflict.

Rizwan Arshad commented, “Along with Saleem Ahmed, I engaged with Sadiq and subsequently discussed matters with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Sadiq has a longstanding relationship with the Congress party and should ensure that the BJP does not gain from this situation. We discussed this matter with the Chief Minister.”

He further stated, “Sadiq has agreed. We mentioned yesterday that the issue would be resolved. Following our request, he has come here. He has a 40-year connection with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and will also converse with Deputy Chief Minister and Randeep Surjewala.”

The Congress party in Karnataka has been facing dissent from its own members within the Davanagere South Assembly constituency, a historical stronghold represented by the late Shamanur Shivashankarappa since 2008. Party insiders warn that if the leadership fails to placate the dissenters, the BJP could achieve its first victory in this constituency.

This outcome is crucial for both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

The Congress is fielding young Samarth Mallikarjun, grandson of the late Shamanur Shivashankarappa, while the BJP has nominated grassroots leader Srinivas T. Dasakariyappa, who belongs to an oppressed class.

The Congress faces backlash from the Muslim community and progressive groups for favoring a family dynasty. D.K. Shivakumar defended the decision, asserting that Samarth is educated abroad and possesses a vision. Furthermore, he noted that Samarth’s mother, Prabha Mallikarjun, a Lok Sabha member from Davanagere, was encouraged by the party to enter the electoral fray and is becoming a significant asset.

Samarth’s father, S.S. Mallikarjun, is currently the Minister for Mines and Geology and Horticulture in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet.

The BJP has nominated Srinivas T. Dasakariyappa, a leader from the Scheduled Tribe community, known for his strong leadership and good relations across various communities. He is viewed as a potential candidate who could secure the seat for the BJP for the first time.