Karnataka Congress leaders belonging to Muslim community on Tuesday decided to ask the party for more tickets to candidates belonging to the community, in the 2023 Assembly polls.
The decision was taken during a meeting of leaders from the minority community, attended by former Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, KPCC working president Saleem Ahmed, former ministers UT Khader, Tanveer Sait, B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, Rahim Khan, former MP IG Sanadi, MLC Naseer Ahmed, among others.
Saleem Ahmed noted that the Congress has received 100 applications from minority communities seeking tickets, mostly Muslims.
“We will scrutinise and give a list to the party. Winnability will be the criteria. Wherever there is a chance to win, we will push for tickets to be given to minorities,” he said.
The Congress had given tickets to 17 Muslim candidates in the 2018 Assembly elections, of whom seven had won.
In the meeting, it was decided to hold five joint conventions of minorities and backward classes in January, aimed at organising Congress.
Alleging that minority voters are being deleted from electoral rolls, Saleem Ahmed said, “Voters are being shifted to different houses and booths, such irregularities have been found in Bidar, Vijayapura and Hubballi, other than Bengaluru.”
“Voters are wise and are aware that the real contest is between the Congress and BJP…..we are confident they will be with us.” he said while responding to a question on JD(S), SDPI and AIMIM eyeing Muslim votes.
(Inputs from PTI)
