Siddaramaiah on back foot after losing two ST ministers in 2 years

Bengaluru: The Congress government in Karnataka has gone into a defensive mode, refraining from reacting much to the constant barbs hurled at it by the Opposition BJP over the firing of Valmiki community (ST) minister KN Rajanna.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah removed Rajanna from the ministry on directions from AICC leadership, displeased over his critical comments on "vote theft". His removal from the state cabinet comes a year after another Valmiki minister, B Nagendra, resigned after allegations of diversion of funds meant for the welfare of ST members surfaced.

Rajanna's ouster has been a shocker for Siddaramaiah as the MLA from Tumakuru district has been a loyal follower, known for his blunt talk. His exit comes at a time when the CM had been trying to bring back Nagendra into the Cabinet.

Siddaramaiah, who belongs to the backward class Kuruba community, has cemented his position as a tall leader of the Ahinda (acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalit) voters. But now, the community could doubt his ability to protect its political interests.

The way Rajanna was removed will exact its own political price, said an ST leader. BJP too has been trying to foment anger in the numerically strong community by supporting Rajanna's remarks and projecting him as a victim. "Congress government is always ready to betray the Valmiki community," the BJP said in a post on X.