Daijiworld Media Network – Tumakuru

Tumakuru, Aug 12: In a dramatic turn of events, Madhugiri town in Tumakuru district witnessed intense protests on Monday as hundreds of supporters and fans of K N Rajanna took to the streets, expressing outrage over his removal from the Karnataka state cabinet. The situation escalated alarmingly when some supporters attempted suicide, triggering police intervention.

Rajanna, who served as the minister for cooperation, was recently dropped from the cabinet, a move that has angered his base in his home region. His supporters launched a massive demonstration in Madhugiri, voicing demands for his immediate reinstatement.

The protests began with sloganeering and processions through the town’s key roads, culminating at Ambedkar Circle, where a large gathering demanded justice for their leader. By 1 pm, protest leaders called for a town-wide shutdown, with shops closed and public movement disrupted.

Witnesses reported a highly charged atmosphere, where the emotional outpouring turned distressing as a few protestors, reportedly overwhelmed by Rajanna's ouster, attempted to take their own lives. Fortunately, police personnel and locals acted swiftly, rescuing them before any tragedy occurred.

“This is not just a political move. It’s a betrayal of the people who elected him. Rajanna has worked tirelessly for our community,” said a protestor who participated in the march.

The shutdown brought much of Madhugiri to a standstill, and law enforcement agencies were deployed in large numbers to manage the situation. Officials confirmed that no major incidents occurred beyond the suicide attempts, all of which were successfully averted.

The political fallout of the incident has already begun to ripple across state circles, with questions raised about the reasons for Rajanna’s exclusion and the emotional toll on his grassroots supporters.

As of now, the state government has made no official statement addressing the protest or the demand for K N Rajanna’s reappointment to the cabinet.