Former Karnataka minister and Congress MLA K.N. Rajanna on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, raised a sharp objection to his party's recent reshuffle of district leadership, pointing out that not a single woman had been appointed among the 35 district Congress committee presidents named across Karnataka. Rajanna flagged the concern directly to senior party leaders in Bengaluru, calling it a significant shortcoming in social representation.

What Rajanna Raised and With Whom

Rajanna met Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad at his residence and separately called on Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara at his Sadashivanagar home on Tuesday. According to Rajanna, the discussions centred on party organisation in his home district of Tumakuru, but the appointments issue dominated the conversation.

'I told him that among the 35 party district presidents appointed recently, there is no woman candidate. I asked him to bring these shortcomings to the notice of AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala and AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, who are arriving in Bengaluru today,' Rajanna told reporters.

Backward Classes Representation Also Questioned

Beyond the gender gap, Rajanna alleged that backward communities had received inadequate representation in the appointments. He said leaders from backward classes numbered only eight among the 35 newly-named district chiefs — and even within that group, 'proper social engineering has not been done,' according to him.

Hariprasad reportedly acknowledged the shortcomings and assured Rajanna he would convey the concerns to the party's national leadership. This comes amid broader internal pressure within the Karnataka Congress over equitable representation in party structures.

Rajanna's Own Political Position

Rajanna, a close associate of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has been a vocal internal critic in recent months. He had previously challenged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and publicly backed the appointment of a Dalit Chief Minister in the event of Siddaramaiah's replacement. He was allegedly dropped from the Cabinet following remarks attributed to him regarding Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over the so-called 'vote chori' issue.

On Tuesday, Rajanna clarified that he does not intend to contest the next Assembly election but plans to contest a future Lok Sabha election — a position Parameshwara reportedly acknowledged. He also pushed back on reports of displeasure over losing the Karnataka Apex Bank president's post, saying his concern was institutional functioning rather than personal position-holding.

'I have been in this movement for 50 years. Contesting for a position is secondary for me. My interest is in cooperative institutions, particularly an institution like Apex Bank, which should work in tune with the government,' he said.

What This Signals for Karnataka Congress

The episode underscores simmering internal tensions within the Karnataka Congress over representation and factionalism. Notably, the party has faced repeated questions about translating its stated commitment to women's empowerment into organisational appointments. With senior national leaders Surjewala and Venugopal expected in Bengaluru, Rajanna's public intervention appears designed to ensure the representation concern reaches the party's central leadership before decisions are ratified.

How the AICC responds — whether by revising the district president list or addressing the gap through other party posts — is likely to be closely watched by both Congress workers and opposition leaders in the state.