Deve Gowda denied Rajya Sabha seat: Congress slams BJP-JD(S) over 'humiliation'
Synopsis
Congress has turned the reported sidelining of former PM H.D. Deve Gowda for a Rajya Sabha seat into a pointed political attack — reminding JD(S) that it was Sonia Gandhi's Congress, not the BJP, that once rescued Gowda electorally. The episode lays bare the tensions inside the BJP-JD(S) alliance and gives Congress fresh ammunition in Karnataka.
Key Takeaways
Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on 8 June 2026 criticised BJP and JD(S) over the reported denial of a Rajya Sabha nomination to former PM H.D.
BJP reportedly nominated its state Vice President Dr M.
Nagaraja over Deve Gowda for the Rajya Sabha seat.
Surjewala recalled that Congress and Sonia Gandhi had supported Deve Gowda's Rajya Sabha election after his 2019 Lok Sabha defeat.
Deve Gowda had previously said he would 'disown Kumaraswamy' if he allied with BJP; the JD(S)-BJP alliance was formalised in October 2023 .
Kumaraswamy currently serves as Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel in the Modi government.
Congress General Secretary and Karnataka In-Charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday, 8 June 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) over the reported denial of a Rajya Sabha nomination to former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, calling the development politically 'astonishing and eye-opening.'
What Surjewala Alleged
In a formal statement, Surjewala alleged that the BJP had passed over the former Prime Minister in favour of its state Vice President in charge of 'District Building Construction,' M. Nagaraja, for the Rajya Sabha nomination. He described the decision as a direct 'humiliation' of Deve Gowda and accused the JD(S) leadership of acquiescing to such treatment.
Surjewala went further, arguing that Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's repeated acceptance of such perceived slights was evidence of a political compromise made solely to preserve ministerial office. 'Power at any cost, power at all costs is the one and only motto of JD(S) in Karnataka now,' he said.
Congress Reminds JD(S) of Past Support
Surjewala invoked a notable episode from recent political history: following Deve Gowda's defeat to BJP's G.S. Basavaraju in the 2019 general elections, it was Congress — and specifically former Congress President Sonia Gandhi — that extended support to elect him to the Rajya Sabha, setting aside political differences out of respect for his stature as a former Prime Minister from Karnataka.
He also recalled that Deve Gowda himself had once declared he would 'disown Kumaraswamy' if his son allied with the BJP — a position that was abandoned when the JD(S)-BJP alliance was formalised in October 2023, with Kumaraswamy subsequently joining Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet as Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel.
BJP Announces Its Candidate
The BJP national leadership has formally announced the candidature of its senior leader Dr M. Nagaraja for the Rajya Sabha seat in question. The decision has not been publicly commented upon by either the BJP or JD(S) in response to Surjewala's allegations.
The Broader Political Context
This comes amid ongoing friction within the BJP-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka, where seat-sharing and portfolio distribution have periodically strained relations. Notably, Deve Gowda's exclusion — if confirmed — would mark a significant moment for a figure who once led the country as Prime Minister and whose family remains central to JD(S)'s political identity in the state. Congress, which currently governs Karnataka, appears to be leveraging the episode to deepen divisions within the alliance ahead of future electoral contests. How JD(S) responds publicly — or whether it does at all — will be closely watched.
Point of View
Surjewala is attempting to peel away JD(S) sympathisers in Karnataka ahead of future elections. The more telling question, however, is why JD(S) — which built its identity around Deve Gowda's legacy — appears unwilling or unable to publicly contest the BJP's nominee choice. If the alliance cannot secure even a Rajya Sabha berth for its patriarch, it signals a power asymmetry that could become a long-term liability for Kumaraswamy. Congress, governing Karnataka, has every incentive to keep this wound open.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Congress criticise BJP and JD(S) over H.D. Deve Gowda?
Congress criticised the two parties after reports emerged that BJP had denied former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda a Rajya Sabha nomination, instead fielding its own state Vice President Dr M. Nagaraja. Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala called the move a 'humiliation' of a former Prime Minister and accused JD(S) of tolerating it to protect ministerial positions.
Who did BJP nominate for the Rajya Sabha seat instead of Deve Gowda?
The BJP national leadership announced the candidature of its senior leader Dr M. Nagaraja, described as the party's state Vice President in charge of District Building Construction, for the Rajya Sabha seat.
What is Congress's past connection to Deve Gowda's Rajya Sabha membership?
After Deve Gowda lost his Lok Sabha seat to BJP's G.S. Basavaraju in the 2019 general elections, Congress and then-Congress President Sonia Gandhi extended support to elect him to the Rajya Sabha, setting aside political differences in deference to his status as a former Prime Minister from Karnataka.
When did JD(S) ally with BJP, and what role did Kumaraswamy get?
JD(S) and BJP formalised their alliance in October 2023. Following the alliance, H.D. Kumaraswamy joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet as Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel.
What had Deve Gowda said earlier about a possible JD(S)-BJP alliance?
According to Surjewala's statement, Deve Gowda had publicly declared that he would 'disown Kumaraswamy' if his son joined hands with the BJP — a position he later did not act upon when the alliance was formed in October 2023.
