Bengaluru — Large-scale protests broke out in Tumakuru district on Tuesday after Karnataka’s Cooperation Minister K. N. Rajanna was unexpectedly removed from the state cabinet. Demonstrators in Madhugiri town, many of them his long-time supporters, shut shops, held marches, and shouted slogans demanding his reinstatement.

According to police, the agitation began shortly after news of Rajanna’s dismissal spread. A local councillor, Girija Manjunath, resigned in solidarity, while one protester allegedly attempted self-immolation but was stopped in time. Some incidents of property damage were also reported.

The protests coincided with uproar in the legislative assembly, where opposition leaders questioned the lack of explanation for the minister’s removal. The government maintained that appointing or removing ministers falls under the Chief Minister’s prerogative and requires no formal reasoning.

Rajanna, a senior Congress leader from the Valmiki community, has been vocal on various issues in recent weeks, including remarks critical of party leadership over alleged irregularities. His exit has sparked allegations from some political figures that the party is sidelining leaders from certain communities.

Former minister G. Raju Gouda claimed the decision reflected internal politics and urged legislators from the Valmiki community to unite against what he described as “injustice.”

While the government has not commented on the reasons for Rajanna’s ouster, the incident has deepened rifts within the party and mobilised his grassroots support base. Police have been deployed in Madhugiri to prevent further unrest, and officials are monitoring the situation closely.