Members of the Muslim community and several local organisations staged a large protest in Mahalingpur, demanding that senior Congress leader B. Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan be given a Cabinet-rank ministerial post, with some groups pressing for his elevation as Deputy Chief Minister during the second phase of Karnataka’s Cabinet expansion.
The demonstration, organised by the Anjuman Committee, community groups and organisations from Mahalingpur and nearby villages, reflected growing unease among supporters of the Chamrajpet MLA after he was left out of the first phase of Cabinet formation under Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar. Protesters said the exclusion of a leader with a strong minority support base had caused disappointment across sections of the community.
Participants raised slogans demanding “political justice” and argued that Zameer Ahmed Khan’s absence from the Cabinet had sent a wrong message at a time when Congress is attempting to balance regional, caste and community representation. Several speakers said the second phase of expansion should correct what they described as an imbalance in the first list.
The protest in Mahalingpur, a town in Bagalkot district, follows similar expressions of support for Zameer in other parts of Karnataka, including demonstrations by supporters and community leaders seeking a ministerial berth for him. The demand has gained traction because Zameer previously held key portfolios, including Housing, Waqf and Minority Welfare, in the Siddaramaiah-led government.
Protesters said Zameer had built a visible political profile among minority voters and remained one of the most recognisable Muslim leaders in the state Congress. They argued that keeping him out of the Cabinet could weaken the party’s outreach to communities that played a significant role in its electoral support base.
Community representatives at the protest said their demand was not merely about one individual but about adequate representation in government. They urged the Congress leadership to take note of the sentiment before finalising the next round of ministerial appointments. Some speakers said Zameer should be considered not only for a Cabinet berth but also for the Deputy Chief Minister’s post to reflect the community’s political weight.
The Cabinet exercise has unfolded against the backdrop of intense lobbying within the ruling party. Several legislators and factional groups have pressed claims for ministerial positions, citing seniority, loyalty, caste equations, regional balance and electoral contribution. The first phase of Cabinet formation left a number of aspirants dissatisfied, prompting public shows of strength by supporters in different districts.
Zameer Ahmed Khan, a five-time MLA from Chamrajpet, has had a long political career marked by shifts in party alignment and strong personal networks in Bengaluru and beyond. He entered the Assembly through a bypoll in 2005 and later became a prominent minority face in Congress after moving from the Janata Dal. His supporters say his record as a minister and his appeal among urban and semi-urban minority voters make him a strong contender for a senior post.
The demand for his inclusion has also been sharpened by internal developments in Congress after the Davangere South bypoll, where minority representation and candidate selection became points of contention. Zameer’s name figured in political discussions linked to dissent within the party, though he has denied acting against party interests and maintained that he worked for the official Congress candidate.
Senior leaders have so far avoided giving firm assurances on individual claims, saying Cabinet decisions rest with the party high command and the Chief Minister. The leadership faces the challenge of accommodating competing aspirations while preventing discontent from hardening into factional friction.
For Congress, the issue carries wider political significance. Karnataka’s minority voters have remained a crucial component of the party’s support structure, particularly in urban constituencies, parts of north Karnataka and several seats with sizeable Muslim populations. Any perception of under-representation could complicate the party’s efforts to project inclusiveness after the government formation.
