Karnataka's political landscape is witnessing a tumultuous shakeup following the dismissal of Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna from the cabinet. The move, instigated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's recommendation to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, has triggered a wave of accusations and counter-accusations, with Rajanna alleging a "conspiracy" behind his ouster.
The immediate cause of Rajanna's sacking appears to be his public criticism of Rahul Gandhi's "vote theft" allegations regarding the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Rajanna questioned the Congress party's silence over alleged voter list manipulation, which he claimed occurred during the party's own tenure in power. Specifically, he stated that "vote theft" had taken place in the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency in Bengaluru during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when Congress was in power in the State. These remarks reportedly infuriated the Congress high command, who demanded action against the minister.
However, sources suggest that Rajanna's dismissal was not solely based on his recent statements. He had allegedly been ignoring the orders of the high command repeatedly. Rajanna had been in the news since June after he hinted at a massive political upheaval in Karnataka. In March, he had also made sensational claims in the Assembly about honey-trapping attempts targeting him, though police found no evidence to support these claims. Furthermore, his relationship with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was reportedly strained, with Rajanna publicly calling for Shivakumar's replacement as Karnataka Congress president.
The opposition BJP has seized upon the opportunity to attack the Congress, with members questioning the grounds for Rajanna's removal in the Assembly and demanding clarification from the government. The JD(S) party also weighed in, stating that Rajanna's resignation showed that “there is no internal democracy within the Congress party". They further added that, "For speaking the truth about the false allegations of vote theft made by Rahul Gandhi, Minister Rajanna has been sacked. He has resigned under pressure from the Congress High Command. It has been proven once again that only servitude is valued in the Italy Congress party,”.
Rajanna's removal has broader implications for the stability of the Siddaramaiah government. He is the second minister to exit the cabinet since the Congress came to power in 2023, with B. Nagendra having resigned last year in connection with an embezzlement case. Both ministers belong to the Valmiki (ST) community, leaving the cabinet with only one ST minister, Satish Jarkiholi. This could potentially create a representation issue and fuel further discontent within the party.
In the wake of these events, speculation is rife about a potential cabinet reshuffle. While Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has dismissed such speculation, claiming there are no plans to alter the cabinet composition, sources suggest that a reshuffle may be imminent, with several ministers under scrutiny for performance and corruption concerns. Some reports indicate that senior leaders like B.K. Hariprasad and R.V. Deshpande are likely to be inducted into the cabinet.
The political drama in Karnataka underscores the internal tensions within the Congress party and the challenges faced by the Siddaramaiah government in maintaining unity and stability. Rajanna's accusations of a conspiracy and the opposition's attacks have further intensified the situation, leaving the future of the cabinet and the party's leadership in the state uncertain.
