BENGALURU, April 13 -- Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said that, based on an AICC secretary's report, action is being taken against some Congress leaders following allegations of an internal "conspiracy" to defeat the party's candidate in the Davanagere South by-election.

His remarks came as Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar on Sunday accepted the resignation of the party's minority department chairman K Abdul Jabbar. The dispute traces back to the party's decision to field Samarth Mallikarjun in Davanagere South, bypassing demands from sections of minority leaders who had pushed for a Muslim candidate in a constituency where they form a significant segment of the electorate.

"The high command appointed an AICC secretary...