Former Karnataka Minister K.N. Rajanna cautioned that sidelining former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would be a significant mistake, emphasizing the need to involve him for the Congress to regain power in the 2028 Assembly elections. Rajanna, a close ally of Siddaramaiah, suggested that a Dalit should become Chief Minister if leadership changes in the state. He also expressed readiness to lead the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) when Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar held the position.
Rajanna stressed that Siddaramaiah, being a popular mass leader who led the party to power twice in the state, should not be marginalized. He warned that any efforts to strengthen the party by distancing Siddaramaiah would backfire politically. Rajanna reiterated the importance of carrying Siddaramaiah along and gaining his trust to enhance the party’s chances of winning in 2028.
Chikkaballapur Congress MLA Pradeep Eshwar met Siddaramaiah to discuss an incident during the Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations where JD(S) workers reportedly targeted him over comments made against Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. Siddaramaiah consoled Eshwar, stating that such incidents were common in politics and advised him to stay strong. Siddaramaiah also contacted Home Minister Priyank Kharge to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident, expressing concern over the police’s presence during the attack on a ruling-party legislator.
