Supporters of Satish Jarkiholi protest ED raids on the public works minister, in Bengaluru on Friday
Bengaluru: Setbacks involving Scheduled Tribe (ST) functionaries in Congress are raising concern that such disputes could feed discontent among sections of the state’s tribal electorate.
His removal from the cabinet in 2025 after controversial remarks against Rahul Gandhi had strained relations with party brass. Developments involving former minister B Nagendra, public works minister Satish Jarkiholi and former minister KN Rajanna are unrelated. Yet, party functionaries worry they could feed a narrative that Congress is weakening ST representatives. Rajanna’s case could have direct political bearing. MLA from Madhugiri and from Nayaka community, he has roots in the cooperative sector.
As ST welfare minister in the previous Siddaramaiah cabinet, he resigned in 2024 after allegations of financial irregularities in Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Political analyst Vishwas Shetty said, “That narrative could be damaging ahead of the 2028 assembly elections if it gains traction among tribal organisations, community leaders and Congress workers.
“Though Congress initially defended Nagendra, it eventually let him go to deny the opposition political mileage, though that decision came too late,” said a senior Congress functionary. The danger is that individual disputes could gradually acquire a broader social identity,” said an MLA from Tumakuru. Nagendra’s case is the most prominent. He was re-inducted into DK Shivakumar ’s cabinet but had to quit again after opposition BJP and JD(S) disrupted the monsoon session of the legislature, claiming he was not given a clean chit and demanding his resignation. “However, rumour mills went overdrive that a prominent Congressman orchestrated the protest to force Nagendra to resign so he would not spill the beans on the scam. “Now, if Rajanna’s supporters or sections of his social base begin interpreting subsequent developments through a caste or community lens, Congress could face political difficulty. But it is premature to call this an outright ST backlash, with no clear evidence of statewide tribal consolidation against Congress. But these are warning signs. If controversies involving the trio are seen as community-representation issues rather than individual disputes, Congress could face a larger ST sentiment problem. ”