Hubballi: The Congress party’s appointment of Sadanand Danganavar as president of the Hubballi-Dharwad Mahanagar Zilla Congress under the Sanghatan Srijan Abhiyan has sparked discontent among Muslim leaders and workers, who say the community has been denied adequate representation in the district unit.Party workers pointed out that the post, traditionally held by Muslim leaders for decades, has now gone to a Lingayat leader. Minority leaders described the decision as a setback to their long-pending demand for representation in key organisational positions.The appointment has also revived concerns over the absence of Muslim representation in the Legislative Council from the undivided Dharwad district, particularly Hubballi-Dharwad.Outgoing district president Altaf Hallur said he had received feedback from several community leaders regarding the replacement of a Muslim leader. Their views would be conveyed to state party leaders at an upcoming meeting of outgoing district presidents, he said. Community members had expected another Muslim worker to be appointed to the post.HDMC corporator Arif Bhadrapur said Danganavar was a dedicated party worker who had served as state Youth Congress president, district Youth Congress president and KPCC general secretary. However, he said the community was disappointed that a Muslim leader had not been chosen.Former ministers AM Hindasgeri and Jabbarkhan Honnalli, as well as former deputy mayor Altaf Hallur, had previously served as district unit presidents, he noted.Danganavar said his selection was made transparently and purely on merit after consultations with grassroots workers, elected representatives and party functionaries. He added that Muslim leaders had every right to seek leadership opportunities for their community.
