Karnataka Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna resigned from the state cabinet on Monday, shortly after acknowledging that irregularities in the voter list, described by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as “vote theft”, had taken place when the party was in power.
Rajanna reportedly said that discrepancies in the rolls of Bengaluru’s Mahadevapura constituency occurred under the Congress government, and that leaders at the time had failed to object when draft rolls were published. He stated that such inaction had allowed the irregularities to persist.
According to Rajanna, the lapses “happened right in front of our eyes” and should cause “shame” to those in power then. He warned that leaders must raise timely objections to protect the integrity of elections, rather than remain silent until after polls.
The minister’s remarks contradicted the party’s current position and prompted criticism from Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. Hours later, Rajanna tendered his resignation.
The development comes amid a dispute between the Congress and the Election Commission, which has issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi seeking proof for his “vote theft” claims.
If a minister can be shown the door within hours of contradicting the party line, what does that say about democracy within Congress? Did Rahul Gandhi force K. N. Rajanna out for daring to speak an inconvenient truth—one that undercut his ‘vote chori’ narrative?
(With inputs from Hindustan Times)
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