Bengaluru : Karnataka Minister KN Rajanna resigned from the Karnataka cabinet after the Congress high command moved to dismiss him following his controversial remarks on voter list irregularities. Rajanna initially refused to resign, stating, “I will discuss with the Chief Minister. Until then, I won’t say anything. Why should I resign just because you say so? I will speak after meeting the Chief Minister.”
Following the high command’s directive to dismiss him, Rajanna tendered his resignation, which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accepted, and forwarded it to the governor. Earlier in the day, Rajanna publicly admitted that the voter list revisions happened “right in front of our eyes” during the Congress rule but were not properly monitored.
He cited instances where a single person’s name appeared in three different locations, enabling multiple votes, and pointed out suspicious entries in areas with very few residents. He also accused the Election Commission of wrongdoing, claiming it “did what they should not have done” by altering the voter list and effectively helping the Prime Minister.
The BJP seized the opportunity to criticise the Congress. Amit Malviya slammed Rahul Gandhi’s “fake vote chori” campaign on X, highlighting Rajanna’s admission that voter rolls were prepared during Congress rule. State BJP President BY Vijayendra said, “Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party lack the courage to face the truth and the hard realities before them. While Rahul Gandhi alleges malpractice, it is important to note that all these issues have emerged under the leadership of Siddaramaiah and during the Congress’s rule in Karnataka.
Vijayendra added, “Rajanna has spoken the truth, and it is evident that Siddaramaiah is orchestrating the resignation of Rajanna. When the Election Commission raised legitimate concerns, Rahul Gandhi resorted to political theatrics, a ‘hit-and-run’ approach, without submitting a proper explanation or letter. This is accompanied by a deliberate campaign of false propaganda, which is both unethical and unacceptable in a democracy.
Law Minister HK Patil urged the House not to discuss media reports, saying, “If anything, the Chief Minister will inform the house. We can’t debate what appears in the media here.” BJP members countered, urging Rajanna to clarify his position, pointing out, “He is in the house; he should make a statement.”
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