Karnataka Congress MLAs Visit Ayodhya Amid Cabinet Reshuffle Push, Defy Earlier Party Line
New Delhi/Ayodhya: In a politically significant development, a group of Karnataka Congress MLAs visited Ayodhya and offered prayers at the Ram Mandir, marking what is being seen as a rare and possibly first such instance of Congress legislators from the state making an on-camera visit to the temple, despite earlier caution from the party high command.
The visit comes in the backdrop of internal churn within the Karnataka Congress, where nearly 14–15 MLAs had travelled to New Delhi over the past few days to lobby the party leadership for a cabinet reshuffle and greater representation for fresh faces, including first-time legislators.
After their engagements in Delhi, the MLAs proceeded to Ayodhya, where they sought the blessings of Lord Ram. Speaking to the media, senior MLA and former minister T.B. Jayachandra said the visit was driven by a long-standing desire to have darshan at Ayodhya.
“We had a wish to visit Ayodhya and seek the blessings of Lord Ram. Around 15 of us have come here today for darshan. It is a moment of happiness for us,” he said.
Jayachandra also expressed pride that the Ram idol installed at the temple was sculpted by Mysuru-based artist Arun Yogiraj, calling it a moment of pride for Karnataka. He added that the cultural and spiritual connection between Karnataka and Ayodhya was something difficult to fully articulate but deeply felt.
The development gains further attention as it comes despite earlier signals from the Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, advising party members to maintain a cautious distance from events linked to the Ram Mandir inauguration. Notably, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar had also attended the Maha Kumbh earlier, indicating a nuanced approach within the state unit.
Meanwhile, the political context behind the visit remains crucial. The MLAs had been camping in Delhi for over three days, holding discussions and planning meetings with senior Congress leaders, including AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala. Their primary demand revolves around a cabinet reshuffle, with senior legislators pressing for inclusion and voicing dissatisfaction over the performance of certain ministers.
Sources indicate that the MLAs are unlikely to return to Bengaluru without a clear signal from the high command on the reshuffle. They have reportedly conveyed that continuing with the existing cabinet without changes could impact the party’s prospects in the next elections.
After completing their Ayodhya visit, the MLAs are expected to return to Delhi to resume discussions with the leadership. The Congress high command is yet to take a final call on the cabinet reshuffle, though indications suggest that clarity may emerge after the upcoming electoral developments in other states.
The Ayodhya visit, coupled with the ongoing power dynamics within the Karnataka Congress, has added a fresh political dimension to the party’s internal negotiations, placing the leadership under increased pressure to balance ideological positioning with ground-level aspirations of its legislators.
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