Bengaluru, April 15 -- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed his political secretary, Naseer Ahmed, following allegations that he failed to support the Congress party's official candidate during the April 9 by-election in Davangere South.

The notification, released by the protocol wing of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, said he had been "relieved from the post with immediate effect."

The removal leaves Siddaramaiah without a political secretary. The previous office-holder, K. Govindaraj, had been removed in June 2025 following a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy stadium that resulted in 11 deaths.

Senior Congress figures had accused Ahmed and others of not backing the party's chosen candidate, Samarth M...