Political war of words between the Karnataka Congress has intensified after Minister H.C. Balakrishna hit out at former minister K N Rajanna, asking him to quit if he wants to join another party, and announced that he would complain to the high command over Rajanna’s anti-party activities.
At Dharmapura village in Hiriyur taluk, Balakrishna questioned Rajanna’s political conduct and said he was working against Congress even though he benefited from it. His comments have once again brought differences between the two Congress leaders into focus.
‘Rajanna Can Leave the Party If He Wants’
When asked about Rajanna’s developments, Balakrishna said that the former minister was free to leave Congress if he is not happy with it.
He alleged that Rajanna and his son should answer questions about their political activities and whether they had worked sincerely for the Congress during elections.
Balakrishna also spoke about an alleged photograph of Rajanna and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy. The minister said that the photograph was clicked even before the election process ended.
Balakrishna asked Rajanna who he had supported in whose election campaign. He asked Congress leadership to look into it, saying if they did not do so, such developments would create problems for the party.
Balakrishna Accuses Rajanna of Anti-Party Activities
The minister alleged that Rajanna had benefited from the Congress party but was now acting against its interests.
He asked whether the former minister had been involved in any sting operation and questioned his political activities.
Balakrishna also said that Congress was not anyone’s personal property and disciplinary action should be taken against leaders who engage in activities against the party.
He insisted that party rules and organisational discipline should apply to everyone, regardless of political position or seniority.
The minister also said that he will take it up with the Congress high command and lodge a complaint against Rajanna.
Congress Leadership Faces Pressure Over Internal Differences
The latest remarks show that Karnataka Congress is still divided. Differences between leaders of different political camps have been repeatedly brought out in public statements and counter allegations.
K.N. Rajanna is a senior Congress leader and former Cooperation Minister and had earlier been in controversy over his public statements on the party’s stand on alleged voter list irregularities.
He was removed from the Karnataka Cabinet in August 2025 after his comments on the voter-list issue created discontent within party leadership. His removal led to exchanges between Rajanna's supporters and other Congress leaders.
H.C. Balakrishna has also earlier questioned Rajanna’s political future and said he could move towards BJP. Rajanna had publicly rejected suggestions that he would leave the Congress.
This latest confrontation shows that differences over Rajanna’s place in the party are still a political issue.
Will Congress High Command Take Action?
Balakrishna’s statement that he would go to the Congress high command has given another dimension to the dispute.
The party leadership could now be asked if it will step in and deal with the allegations of anti-party activities. Any disciplinary action would depend on how the leadership views the complaint and what information is available.
For the time being, Balakrishna has said what he wants to say: leaders who work against the party should be punished.
The former minister’s reaction to the latest allegations will also be decisive in determining how the political dispute develops.
Both leaders made strong statements and the differences within Karnataka Congress are back in focus again. What Rajanna does next and what Congress high command does will decide whether the controversy escalates further or is sorted out at the party level.
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