Hassan: Co-operative Minister K. N. Rajanna has been appointed as the District In-Charge Minister for Hassan, a stronghold of JD (S) Supremo H.D. Deve Gowda. Even Congress leaders did not expect the Chief Minister to appoint Gowda’s political rival K. N. Rajanna as Hassan District In-Charge Minister. Leaders of political parties have expressed different opinions on this appointment.
While Congress and BJP leaders welcomed the decision, JD (S) leaders refused to comment. The JD (S) MLAs did not expect the decision of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is also Gowda’s political rival.
A BJP leader has said the Chief Minister had taken the right decision by appointing Co-operative Minister Rajanna as the District In-Charge Minister in the interest of the District. They do not compromise on any matters and take tough decisions. Rajanna is the right politician for a District like Hassan where the leaders of the respective parties are trying to take control of the District by meddling in all matters, Rajanna’s appointment will give a boost to the Congress party in Hassan District, he said.
Puttaswamy, a Senior BJP Worker, alleged that the previous District In-Charge Minister had links with the JD (S) in the District. Party workers were also frustrated as the District In-Charge Minister gave importance to Opposition leaders.
Political leaders are waiting to see the governance of K. N. Rajanna and his decisions in Hassan District, which is dominated by the JD(S).
It may be recalled that K. N. Rajanna was in the news during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Gowda’s family and JD (S) supporters had cursed K. N. Rajanna for allegedly trying to defeat Gowda in Tumakuru Lok Sabha constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. It may be a challenge for Rajanna to lead Hassan District, which has four JD (S), two BJP and one Congress MLA.