In a show of unity following the Congress victory in the byelections to the Davanagere South Assembly constituency, minority community leaders appear to be coming together once again.

Sadiq Pahilwan, who withdrew from the electoral contest in Davanagere South, met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday (May 6, 2026). Though he was initially keen to contest as a rebel candidate, he stepped down after discussions with Mr. Siddaramaiah and KPCC chief and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Two days after the poll results, Mr Pahilwan, Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad, along with other party leaders from the Muslim community, met the Chief Minister and congratulated him on the party’s victory.

Congress candidate Samarth, son of Minister S.S. Mallikarjun, defeated BJP candidate Srinivasa Dasakariyappa in the Davanagere South constituency.

In April, following alleged anti-party activities during the byelection, the Congress government removed MLC Naseer Ahmed from his post as political secretary to the Chief Minister. The party also suspended K. Abdul Jabbar, a three-time MLC, from its primary membership with immediate effect on similar grounds. Mr. Jabbar had earlier resigned as chairman of the KPCC Minority Cell.