Shivakumar stresses party discipline amid Davanagere South bypoll row
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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday underlined the importance of party discipline amid the fallout of the Davanagere South bypoll controversy, even as action against certain leaders triggered fresh ripples within the ruling Congress.
Speaking to reporters here, Shivakumar said decisions regarding the party candidate and subsequent developments were taken after consultations with leaders and based on reports submitted from the ground, which were then acted upon by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Shivakumar’s remarks come against the backdrop of the removal of Siddaramaiah’s political secretary, Naseer Ahmed, who was "relieved with immediate effect" following allegations that he worked against the party’s candidate in the Davanagere South Assembly bypoll.
Held on April 9, the election was necessitated by the death of veteran MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa, with the Congress fielding his grandson, Samarth Shamanur.
"If there is no discipline in any party, nothing can function," Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president, said.
"We decided on the candidate after taking everyone into confidence. Every day we were in touch with various leaders. They all submitted reports, and based on that, the CM has taken the decision (on choosing Samarth Shamanur as the Congress candidate for the Davanagere South Assembly segment bypolls)," he said.
He noted that some Congress leaders had stepped down amid the developments.
"By the time we took a decision, they themselves had given their resignation, and it has been accepted," he said, referring to recent exits, including that of MLC Abdul Jabbar.
On his interaction with MLAs aspiring for ministerial positions, Shivakumar said there was nothing wrong with internal discussions but stressed restraint.
"There is nothing wrong with holding meetings or asking for posts; please do. But one must maintain strict discipline. That is my humble request," he said.
He pointed out that he had advised party members to remain cautious in their public conduct.
Asked about the specific allegations against certain leaders, he said he was awaiting further clarity.
"We, too, had received some reports. Another report has to come on what exactly happened (in Davanagere South); I am waiting for it," he said.
On whether any report had been submitted against Housing and Minority Welfare Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, Shivakumar said, "I have no information."
Khan was among those who had demanded that a Muslim candidate be given the ticket in Davanagere South, as the constituency has a substantial Muslim population.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah summoned him on Tuesday. The outcome of the meeting remains unknown.
Tensions had surfaced within the party over the candidate selection, with sections of minority leaders expressing dissatisfaction and demanding representation.
Although a rebel candidate later withdrew his nomination following intervention by the leadership, discontent reportedly persisted, with some leaders staying away from campaign activities.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
