Davanagere, March 25 -- In a dramatic turn of events ahead of the Davanagere South by-election, veteran Congress leader Sadiq Pailwan has entered the fray as a rebel candidate, setting up a direct contest against his own party and the influential Shamanuru family.
The 72-year-old leader, who has spent over four decades in the Congress and was considered a close aide of senior leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, has decided to contest independently after the party fielded Shamanuru's grandson Samarth. His move has triggered a political stir in the constituency, which is witnessing heightened activity and internal dissent within the party ranks.
Pailwan, a former municipal council president and a prominent figure in the local Muslim communit...