KL Rajanna, former Karnataka minister and Congress MLA K.N. Rajanna, has made comments about the political influence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, provoking a fresh debate in the Karnataka Congress. Rajanna said the political strength of Siddaramaiah is closely linked to the power of the Congress party in Karnataka and questioned whether all Vokkaliga voters would vote for Congress just because of Shivakumar.
Rajanna told a private television channel that voters don't choose just to look at Shivakumar. He referred to the former Prime Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Deve Gowda when he commented about the political influence of Vokkaliga voters.
“People don’t just vote by looking at Shivakumar; they vote looking at Deve Gowda,” Rajanna said, as reported. He added that being in power might generate some support but said that voters must be given the votes to win elections.
Rajanna highlights Siddaramaiah's political influence
Rajanna also talked about Siddaramaiah's position within the Congress. If Siddaramaiah is strong, the Congress is strong, and a weakening of Siddaramaiah would also mean a weakening of the party.
Siddaramaiah can attract AHINDA votes for the Congress, Rajanna said. He also compared the political influence of key leaders in Karnataka, saying Siddaramaiah brings votes for Congress. B.S. Yediyurappa has always been involved in the BJP, and H.D. Deve Gowda has been in power for JD(S) because of his community support.
Rajanna called those comments his assessment of the ground reality and admitted that people could interpret his statements differently. His comments have nevertheless contributed to the ongoing political discussion in Karnataka Congress regarding leadership and electoral support.
Question Over Vokkaliga Vote
Rajanna’s central question was whether Shivakumar’s leadership alone would translate into the support of the whole Vokkaliga community.
His comments are in keeping with Karnataka’s complex political and social landscape in which the majority political parties have traditionally sought support from different communities and regional groups. Rajanna’s reference to Deve Gowda is a reminder that JD(S) leadership is still relevant in the analysis of the Vokkaliga political support.
At the same time, Rajanna’s comments are his political assessment and should not be treated as evidence that an entire community votes uniformly for any particular party or leader.
Rajanna Says He Will Stay With Congress
Rajanna also addressed speculation about his political future. In a statement reported on September 18, he said he would not leave the Congress or join another party. He said he would remain with Congress and that he would consider contesting a Lok Sabha election if delimitation takes place.
His comments come after reports of disagreements within the Karnataka Congress. Rajanna had earlier in the month expressed concern about social representation in party appointments after losing the Karnataka State Cooperative Apex Bank president position.
The latest statements are therefore likely to keep attention focused on the internal dynamics of the Karnataka Congress, especially for Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and the party’s approach to different social groups.
Rajanna’s comments remain his own political assessment for now. Whether these comments will lead to more responses from the Congress leaders or become a part of the bigger discussion ahead of the next Karnataka Assembly elections remains to be seen.
