A simmering revolt within the Karnataka Congress broke into the open on Tuesday, 4 August, as legislators from Kolar and Chikkaballapura districts publicly accused the party leadership of denying both districts any representation in the recently expanded state Cabinet — despite the two districts collectively returning seven Congress legislators.

MLAs Take Grievances Public

Three-time Bangarpet MLA S.N. Narayanaswamy, three-time MLA S.N. Subbareddy, two-time Malur MLA K.Y. Nanje Gowda, Kothur MLA G. Manjunath, former minister and Chintamani MLA M.C. Sudhakar, and MLC Anil Kumar jointly addressed a press conference in Bengaluru to register their discontent. The legislators disclosed that seven MLAs and two MLCs from the two districts had earlier convened at a private hotel to deliberate on the issue before going public.

Narayanaswamy questioned why not a single legislator from the two districts had been considered ministerial material. 'Among the seven Congress legislators from these two districts, is there not even one person capable of becoming a minister? We will question the high command and seek an explanation,' he said. He further asserted that the legislators owed their electoral victories to personal standing and grassroots support, not to the party symbol alone. 'The high command cannot come here and ensure our victory. We win on our own strength and image. We are not leaders who get elected only because of the party symbol,' he added.

Loyalty Tested: BJP Offers Rejected

Narayanaswamy disclosed that both he and K.Y. Nanje Gowda had previously received offers from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — including assurances of ministerial positions — but had turned them down out of allegiance to the Congress. 'We have been loyal Congress workers since the 1990s and have worked for the party for more than three decades. We maintained the party's dignity despite attractive offers from the BJP. Is this the reward for our commitment?' he asked. The disclosure underscores the depth of frustration among the dissenters, who argue that decades of loyalty have gone unrewarded.

Sudhakar Pushes Back on Shivakumar's Remarks

Former minister M.C. Sudhakar took direct aim at Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's reported comment that legislators unhappy with the Cabinet expansion were free to resign. 'That may be his style of functioning, but senior leaders should patiently listen to the grievances of party legislators instead of saying resignations would be accepted immediately,' Sudhakar said. He clarified that the dissatisfied group was not seeking a Cabinet reshuffle but wanted the party leadership to acknowledge their concerns and safeguard the Congress's political position in the two districts ahead of the 2028 assembly elections. 'The question is how the Congress expects to retain these districts and return to power in 2028 without giving them representation,' he said.

Protests and Bandh Called

The discontent has already spilled onto the streets. Supporters of S.N. Subbareddy announced a bandh in Gudibande, Chelur, and Malur taluks on Wednesday to protest the denial of a Cabinet berth to the veteran legislator. The rebels also pointed out that while some districts had secured two or even three ministerial positions in the expanded Cabinet, Kolar and Chikkaballapura had been completely overlooked — an imbalance they argue could cost the party dearly in the next electoral cycle.

Whether the Congress high command moves to address the grievances or holds firm will likely shape the party's organisational health in two districts it cannot afford to lose heading into 2028.