Senior Cong MLA Rajanna predicts political development in Karnataka in May

Bengaluru

Amid speculation about a leadership change or cabinet reshuffle in Karnataka in the coming days, senior Congress MLA K N Rajanna on Tuesday predicted political developments in the state in May. Reiterating his recent claim that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has become "helpless" and is under some "compulsion", the former minister said he somehow feels someone might have performed "black magic" against the CM. Not willing to share details of his discussions with the chief minister, Rajanna said, Siddaramaiah is someone who is always seen as a "strong" person, but after seeing recent developments either because of work pressure or some other pressure, he seems to have become a bit silent.

"There will be political developments in the state in the month of May... Siddaramaiah actually has strength, everything will be fine in the days ahead," Rajanna told reporters here, without sharing any specifics. He said, "Politics is not a stagnant water, it is like flowing water. Only when it is flowing will it have purity. If it is stagnant, it will lose its purity. Similarly, for politics to maintain its purity, political developments should keep happening."

Rajanna had earlier too predicted some kind of "revolution" in Karnataka's politics in October and November last year, as the government was about to complete 2.5 years in office. Speculation is rife once again about a cabinet reshuffle and CM change in Karnataka after May 4, where the results for bypolls to two assembly seats in the state and assembly polls to four states and one union territory will be announced. The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.

The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023. Reiterating that Siddaramaiah had become "helpless", Rajanna, who is considered as CM's close confidant, said, "In my experience, I have already said that the CM has become helpless. It somehow makes me feel that someone might have done black magic on him." He said he is investigating that possibility and who is behind it. "If something has to affect a person, it is immaterial whether the person is a believer or an atheist. The problem that will come will not leave anyone....I too don't believe in black magic, but will investigate whether it has been done," he said, when pointed out that Siddaramaiah was an atheist and doesn't believe in black magic.

Amid claims that Siddaramaiah's confidants are being targeted within the ruling Congress in Karnataka, following recent actions against some party leaders, Rajanna had alleged that the chief minister is "helpless" and under some "compulsion" as he is not standing up to defend his people. The comments from the former minister came after Congress took action against some of its minority community leaders--considered close to the CM--following allegations of an internal conspiracy against the party candidate in the Davanagere South bypoll held on April 9. Rajanna was sacked from the Ministry last August on the instructions of the party high command, following his alleged comments criticising top party leader Rahul Gandhi's "vote theft" charge.