Karnataka Congress MLA Ashok Rai skips SIR protest in his own constituency

Mangaluru

In what party workers have described as an act of alleged disobedience, Congress MLA Ashok Kumar Rai skipped a protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) organised by the INDIA bloc in his own constituency, Puttur, on Monday (November 9, 2026). Instead, the MLA attended an event organised by a private digital news channel backed by the Sangh Parivar (RSS) in the same town in Karnataka. 

Congress workers who had been waiting for the MLA expressed disappointment over his absence, particularly since the protest was led by the Congress party itself. The reporter of this news website spoke to multiple party workers to understand their reaction to the development.

A Congress worker, who did not wish to be named in the report, said, “we are angry, upset and disappointed by Rai’s absence. He won the election on a Congress ticket, and it was his duty to attend this significant protest, which was organised on the directions of the party High Command and Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. Similar protests are being held across India to spread awareness about the BJP’s alleged vote theft.”

Party workers had travelled from Mangaluru, nearly 60 km away, to participate in the protest. Despite the demonstration being held close to the MLA’s office, Rai chose to stay away. “He should explain the reasons behind his actions,” said another party worker. Is Rai also going against the direction of Leader of Opposition in the Parliament, Rahul Gandhi, the worker questioned. 

Yet another Congress worker questioned Rai’s absence from the SIR protest and his decision to attend an event organised by an RSS-backed news outlet, alleging that the development raised suspicions of a possible political adjustment. “Is he planning to quit the Congress before the next elections and join the BJP? What was his motive behind this action? Party workers have every right to raise these questions and seek an explanation,” the worker said.

The workers demanded that the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) issue a show-cause notice to Rai. They also alleged that this was not an isolated incident and that there had been several instances in which they felt Rai had not considered himself accountable to the party’s directions.

“What Rai has done is an act of total disobedience,” a party worker said.

KPCC President B K Hariprasad, speaking to blrpost.com, said he was unaware of the incident and that nobody had brought it to his notice so far.

“Since it has now been brought to my notice, I will inquire about the same,” Hariprasad said.