Karnataka BJP chief Vijayendra slams Congress for 'crocodile tears' over Deve Gowda RS snub
Synopsis
A Rajya Sabha seat that reportedly never came has ignited a full-blown political war in Karnataka. BJP's Vijayendra is accusing Congress of fake sympathy for Deve Gowda — a man Congress once tried to unseat as PM. With Kumaraswamy calling Surjewala a 'wasooliwala,' the NDA alliance is hitting back hard, framing the row as Congress opportunism rather than genuine concern.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka BJP President B.Y.
Vijayendra on 9 June accused Congress of shedding 'crocodile tears' over H.D.
Deve Gowda being denied a Rajya Sabha nomination.
Vijayendra alleged Congress once tried to bring down Deve Gowda's government when he was Prime Minister, calling its current concern 'fake.' Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala had called the reported denial 'astonishing and eye-opening'; KPCC chief B.K.
Hariprasad termed it a 'betrayal of Karnataka.' Union Minister H.D.
Kumaraswamy retaliated by labelling Surjewala a 'wasooliwala.' Vijayendra said Deve Gowda supports the NDA and believes national development is best ensured under PM Modi's leadership.
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Tuesday, 9 June launched a pointed counterattack on Congress leaders, dismissing their expressions of concern over former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda being denied a Rajya Sabha nomination as nothing more than 'crocodile tears.' The remarks came in direct response to statements by Karnataka Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala and KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad.
Vijayendra's Broadside Against Congress
Vijayendra alleged that Congress leaders have a selective memory when it comes to Deve Gowda, accusing the party of once attempting to destabilise Gowda's government when he held the country's highest constitutional office as Prime Minister. He charged Congress with now engaging in 'fake concern' for the veteran leader, calling such posturing 'ridiculous.' 'The BJP has always treated Deve Gowda with respect and dignity,' Vijayendra said, contrasting what he described as the Congress's history of 'dirty politics' against the former PM.
Deve Gowda's Alignment With NDA
Vijayendra emphasised that Deve Gowda has extended his support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), believing that national integrity and development are best served under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He argued that Congress leaders, unable to accept this political reality, are attempting to exploit Gowda's name for narrow electoral purposes. Vijayendra also noted that PM Modi has spoken emotionally in Parliament about Gowda's contributions to public life — a gesture he said reflects a genuine personal and political bond that Congress is now trying to undermine.
What the Congress and JD(S) Said
The row erupted after Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday described the reported denial of a Rajya Sabha seat to Deve Gowda as politically 'astonishing and eye-opening,' criticising both the BJP and its alliance partner Janata Dal (Secular) over the development. KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad went further, calling it a 'betrayal of the people of Karnataka.'
Kumaraswamy Joins the Fray
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy also weighed in on Monday, dismissing Surjewala's remarks and labelling the Congress in-charge a 'wasooliwala' — a sharp personal jab that further sharpened the political exchange. Kumaraswamy's intervention signals that the JD(S), now firmly within the NDA fold, is unwilling to cede political ground on the Deve Gowda narrative to Congress.
The Bigger Picture
The dispute over Deve Gowda's Rajya Sabha nomination has exposed fault lines within Karnataka's opposition politics ahead of future electoral cycles. Vijayendra concluded by asserting that the people of Karnataka understand the political reality and will not be swayed by what he characterised as Congress's attempts to manufacture friction between allied leaders. With the NDA alliance in Karnataka seeking to consolidate its position, the battle over Gowda's legacy and political loyalty is likely to intensify in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
And everything to gain by widening a crack in the NDA's Karnataka alliance. Vijayendra's 'crocodile tears' framing is the BJP's pre-emptive strike against that narrative. The real story, however, is what the episode reveals about Deve Gowda's diminishing leverage within an NDA that no longer needs JD(S) votes as urgently as it once did. If a former Prime Minister cannot secure a Rajya Sabha berth from his own alliance, it raises questions about the terms of JD(S)'s partnership that neither Kumaraswamy nor the BJP has yet answered publicly.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a controversy over H.D. Deve Gowda's Rajya Sabha nomination?
Reports emerged that former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda was not considered for a Rajya Sabha nomination despite his party JD(S) being part of the BJP-led NDA alliance. Congress leaders seized on this to accuse the BJP of sidelining the veteran leader, while BJP and JD(S) leaders pushed back sharply.
What did Karnataka BJP President Vijayendra say about Congress?
Vijayendra accused Congress of shedding 'crocodile tears' over Deve Gowda's nomination issue, alleging the party once tried to destabilise Gowda's government when he was Prime Minister. He called Congress's concern 'fake' and described it as 'dirty politics.'
How did the Congress respond to the Rajya Sabha nomination row?
Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala called the reported denial 'astonishing and eye-opening,' while KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad described it as a 'betrayal of the people of Karnataka.' Both criticised the BJP and JD(S) leadership over the development.
What did Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy say in the controversy?
Kumaraswamy dismissed Surjewala's remarks and called him a 'wasooliwala,' signalling that the JD(S) — now part of the NDA — is firmly backing the BJP's position and rejecting Congress's framing of the issue.
What is Deve Gowda's current political alignment?
According to Vijayendra, Deve Gowda supports the BJP-led NDA alliance and believes national integrity and development are best ensured under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. PM Modi has also publicly praised Gowda's contributions in Parliament.
