Karnataka BJP MP and Dalit leader Ramesh Jigajinagi has openly expressed his displeasure against the party, alleging the dominance of upper caste ministers and the neglect of Dalits.

Jigajinagi, the 72-year-old MP from Bijapur, spoke to media about his struggles, grievances and the criticism he has faced for being part of the BJP, which his supporters believe is “anti-Dalit”.

“People advised me against joining the BJP, calling it anti-Dalit. There’s no need for me to demand a Union Minister post; I need the support of the people. But when I returned after the elections, I was scolded. Many Dalits argued that I should have known the BJP’s stance on Dalits before joining,” he told reporters.

Jigajinagi, the lone Dalit MP in South India who has won seven elections, pointed to the skewed representation in the Cabinet. “All upper caste people hold Cabinet positions. Haven’t Dalits ever supported the BJP? I am deeply hurt,” he said.

Despite his impressive electoral track record since 1998, having represented Chikkodi thrice and Bijapur four times and his tenure as Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation from 2016 to 2019, Jigajinagi feels marginalised.

On his exclusion from the cabinet, he said, “There is pressure from the people for me to become a minister at the Centre. Is it fair or unfair?”

In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Jigajinagi won from Bijapur by a margin of 77229 votes. He had secured 672781.

The BJP won 17 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, with the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) securing nine and two seats, respectively.

Key appointments from Karnataka include HD Kumaraswamy from JDS as Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel, and Nirmala Sitharaman reappointed as Finance Minister.

Other Karnataka MPs, who are part of the Union Cabinet, include BJP MPs Pralhad Joshi (Brahmin), V Somanna (Lingayat) and Shobha Karandlaje (Vokkaliga).