Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Aug 11: In a significant political development, cooperation minister and senior Congress leader K N Rajanna has been eased out from the state Cabinet, following days of speculation and internal party pressure.

The move comes after Rajanna openly batted for the appointment of three deputy chief ninisters, triggering tension within the ruling Congress.

Raj Bhavan has formally issued a communication to the state government, confirming the Governor’s approval for his removal with immediate effect.

The Governor’s special secretary, R Prabhushankar, in a letter addressed to chief secretary Shalini Rajneesh, stated that Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot had signed the original notification for Rajanna’s ousting and instructed the government to proceed with the necessary formalities.

“For necessary further action, I have been directed to forward the original notification signed by the Governor regarding the immediate removal of Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna from the Cabinet,” the letter read.

High Command cracks the whip after internal dissent

K N Rajanna had recently made headlines for suggesting that the state should have three deputy chief ministers, arguing that it would help balance regional and caste representation. His remarks reportedly irked the party high command and top state leaders, who viewed the demand as a challenge to chief minister Siddaramaiah’s leadership.

Following this, the Congress high command is believed to have directed Rajanna to step down. He tendered his resignation on Monday, August 11 in the afternoon. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accepted the resignation and forwarded it to the Governor, who subsequently gave it his formal approval.

This development marks a clear message from the Congress leadership that dissent against collective decisions and public airing of internal matters will not be tolerated.

K N Rajanna is a senior Congress MLA from Madhugiri in Tumakuru district and was inducted into the Cabinet during the formation of the government in May 2023. Known for his proximity to Siddaramaiah, his open push for additional DCMs and public remarks had caused unease within the ruling establishment.

While he clarified that he was not demanding a position for himself, his continued insistence on the issue drew criticism from party colleagues and leaders alike.

Leadership talk and ‘September revolution’ stir trouble

Rajanna had made headlines recently by claiming that Karnataka would witness a major political upheaval in September — a “revolution” that many interpreted as a veiled call for a change in chief ministership. Despite warnings from senior Congress figures, he continued to make statements hinting at internal discontent and pressing for a leadership shake-up.

These remarks are said to have drawn the ire of the high command, especially as they came at a time when the party is battling internal dissent and gearing up for critical bypolls and local body elections.

In a clear signal of displeasure, the party had already relieved Rajanna of his responsibilities as the in-charge minister for Hassan district just days earlier — seen by political observers as a precursor to his eventual removal from the Cabinet.

Contradiction of Rahul Gandhi’s voter fraud charge

What seems to have further sealed Rajanna’s fate was his public contradiction of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of voter fraud during the recent Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi had accused the BJP of orchestrating large-scale voter manipulation in Mahadevapura (within the Bengaluru Central constituency) and elsewhere.

Rajanna, however, dismissed these claims, stating: “When were these voter lists prepared? It was during our own government’s tenure. Was everyone asleep at the time?”

This candid retort was seen as deeply embarrassing for the party, directly undermining its national campaign narrative and raising eyebrows among senior Congress leadership.

With his resignation now tendered, Rajanna becomes the latest example of the Congress high command cracking down on dissent and tightening control over its Karnataka unit. With his exit, political circles are now abuzz with speculation on whether this will pave the way for a Cabinet reshuffle.