Congress infighting in Karnataka intensifies amid claims of defections to BJP

Bengaluru: Senior lawmaker KN Rajanna’s sacking from the Cabinet is still rocking the Congress’ boat as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar's men engaged in a public spat Tuesday over possible defections to the BJP.

Rajanna, a Siddaramaiah confidant who was cooperation minister, was sacked last month based on a directive from the Congress high command. Rajanna had almost ridiculed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'vote theft' campaign.

On Tuesday, Magadi MLA HC Balakrishna, a Shivakumar loyalist, claimed that Rajanna would join the BJP. Rubbishing this, Rajanna's son Rajendra, an MLC, said his father's detractors may be the ones who will jump ship.

"I have information that Rajanna has applied for an entry into the BJP. If the Congress was not in power, Rajanna would have joined the BJP already. Wait for a few days and see for yourself," Balakrishna said, adding that his information about Rajanna holding talks with BJP was "100%" true.

Rajanna, who belongs to the ST community, had a feud with Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga.

Balakrishna maintained that Shivakumar had nothing to do with Rajanna's sacking. "He was sacked because of his statements against the high command. He just wants to pin the blame on [Shivakumar]," Balakrishna said.

Rajendra hit back at Balakrishna. "He's trying to impress someone, hoping that he'll be made a minister if there's a Cabinet reshuffle," Rajendra said, adding that his father will not quit Congress.

Without naming Shivakumar, Rajendra said: "Rajanna isn't the one who sang the RSS' prayer in the Assembly, or wore shorts to attend RSS camps."

Rajendra went further to claim that Balakrishna and others may head to the BJP. "This is the September Revolution that Rajanna was talking about," he said. "The revolution is that they (MLAs) will go if [Shivakumar] is offered the chief minister's position."

According to Rajendra, his father is being targeted because he is Siddaramaiah's supporter. "We'll always be with Siddaramaiah. We get votes because of Siddaramaiah, not anyone else," Rajendra said.

A section of pontiffs have sought time to meet the Congress' top brass to press for Rajanna's return to the Cabinet, Rajendra said. "We will brief the high command about the conspiracy. We're hopeful that Rajanna will be taken back into the Cabinet," he added.

Asked about Balakrishna's claim on Rajanna jumping ship, senior BJP leader CT Ravi said: "I won't respond to speculation."