Davanagere: Members of the Muslim community staged a protest in Davanagere city on Sunday against the Congress party’s decision not to field a Muslim candidate for the Davanagere South Assembly constituency, reflecting growing discontent within the community.

According to reports, hundreds of protesters gathered at Akhtar Raza Circle, some holding black flags and placards, and raised slogans against senior Congress leaders including AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar. The demonstrators accused the party of ignoring minorities and failing to uphold its commitment to social justice.

Protesters alleged that the denial of a ticket to a backward Muslim candidate reflects a lack of adequate representation for the community. They said repeated appeals had been made over the past two months seeking a ticket for a Muslim उम्मीदवार, but the party leadership did not respond positively, leading to widespread resentment.

The protest caused traffic disruption at Akhtar Raza Circle for nearly two hours as the crowd swelled at the busy junction. Police later reached the spot, dispersed the protesters, and brought the situation under control, while maintaining tight security in the area.

Several protesters also voiced political dissatisfaction, warning that they would reconsider their support to Congress in the upcoming elections. Some participants indicated that they may back rival parties if their concerns continue to be ignored, stating that the denial of representation has deeply hurt the community’s trust in the party.