5 reasons why Congress High Command decided Karnataka Minister K. N. Rajanna must go

Karnataka minister K. N. Rajanna, who was dismissed from the Karnataka Cabinet on Monday by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, had been a thorn in Congress’s flesh for some time. While his remarks countering Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations regarding voter list tinkering in Karnataka's Mahdevpura deeply embarrassed Rahul and the High Command, forcing them to take the decision to dismiss him without even consulting Siddaramaiah, the resentment against him was brewing for sometime, thanks to his outrageous demands and claims.

1) Embarrassing Rahul Gandhi

Rajanna triggered a controversy within the party after he openly countered Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft. Rajanna said the alleged tinkering took place when Congress was in power and that the matter should have been flagged while it was happening, and not now. INDI Alliance members found this remark so disturbing that they raised it with Rahul Gandhi himself, resulting in Rajanna’s ouster.

2) Objecting Surjewala

When the topic of leadership change in Karnataka Congress and government was raised within the party, State Congress in-charge Randeep Surjewala held a one-to-one meeting with the MLAs. Rajanna objected to this meeting at that time, categorically stating that holding such a meeting was not the job of an in-charge. Moreover, he also chose to skip Surjewala’s meeting by going on a foreign trip. Many within party circles believe that Rajanna intentionally chose to do so.

3) Giving the BJP the fodder

Rajanna also stirred a controversy within the party by claiming that a major shake-up was coming after September. Many believe he was hinting that Jarkiholi could take over as KPCC president from DK Shivakumar. However, Jarkiholi brushed off the remark, stating Rajanna had said this before too, but it’s always the party high command that decides such things. Despite that, this was fodder for the opposition BJP, adding impetus to the statements made by BJP leaders that the CM would change.

4) More Surjewala controversy

Rajanna’s open fight with Surjewala continued as the latter decided to meet  government officials. This was after he held a meeting with MLAs and the minister. Rajanna was at the forefront of opposing the move, calling it unconstitutional.

5) His loose tongue

Not a novice to controversy, Rajanna’s loose tongue has triggered enough controversies. During the formation of the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah, the AICC top brass had laid down certain provisions, which Rajanna violated. He also put the government in a fix, demanding an additional deputy chief minister’s post and accusing his own party members in the House itself of honey-trapping him.

 

India