Karnataka Congress hit by viral bypoll audio clip row: 'Work of mischief-makers'

At a time when Karnataka is witnessing a transition at the top with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar taking over the chief minister’s reins from Siddaramaiah, the state’s ruling Congress has been hit by a new controversy, thanks to an audio clip that went viral on social media.

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The clip allegedly featured B Zameer Ahmed Khan, who was a member of the state cabinet led by former CM Siddaramaiah till he resigned last week, supporting a rival candidate over the party’s official nominee in the Davanagere South assembly by-election held on April 9, laying bare the party’s inner fault divisions. Khan though called it "fake" on Monday (June 1) and said it was part of a "political conspiracy" generated using artificial intelligence (AI).

He also said a complaint would be filed with the cyber police against those who created and circulated the audio clip, and legal action would be taken against them.

BJP asked to sabotage Congress plan?

The audio conversation, allegedly recorded on the day of the by-poll, was reportedly first shared on Monday through an X account named “kannadacockroacc”. The Federal could not verify the authenticity of the audio clip.

The recording, which purportedly captured a phone exchange between Khan and Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation Director Mohammed Siraj on the day of the polling, seems to reveal the duo coordinating efforts to garner votes for the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) candidate in the fray, Afsar Kodlipete. Even talks about the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allegedly being asked to sabotage the bypoll against the Congress emerged in the video, it was suspected.

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Khan had been accused of covertly backing Kodlipete, along with a few other members of the Karnataka Legislative Council and also funding his campaign. They, however, denied such charges. The audio clip would make those charges more serious. In it, Khan was allegedly heard telling the KMDC official that the bypoll result was a “question” over his “reputation” and that he was losing sleep over it.

Siraj allegedly mentioned “cooker, only cooker” during the talks, which many felt was a reference to the pressure cooker, the DSPI’s election symbol. The Congress leader also expressed concern in the clip that Muslim participation in the bypoll was less, according to allegations.

'All of this fabricated to create confusion'

Khan challenged anyone to subject the audio clip to any investigation they deemed necessary.

“I did not speak in that manner. All of this has been fabricated to create confusion. This is the work of mischief-makers, and no one should believe it,” he said.

Congress retained seat

The Congress, nevertheless, won the seat, which has remained its bastion over the years. Samarth Shamanur Mallikarjun, son of state minister SS Mallikarjun and grandson of Davanagere South’s former MLA Shamanur Shivashanakarappa, whose death last December necessitated the by-poll, won the contest by over 5,700 votes against his nearest opponent, Srinivas T Dasakariyappa from the BJP.

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Siraj allegedly said that he met the saffron candidate, whom he called “Seena”, and sought cooperation to derail the Congress’s plans.

Before the bypoll, Khan had strongly favoured Congress leader Abdul Jabbar for the ticket, but the party chose Mallikarjun instead, fuelling resentment among some Muslim leaders and straining his relationship with Siddaramaiah.

Khan was subsequently sidelined from campaign management. The fallout persisted even after the results came out, with Jabbar resigning as state Minority Department chairman, and disciplinary action against Khan was being considered.

Speculation was also rife that Khan could face disciplinary action during the next cabinet reshuffle.

(With agency inputs)