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New Delhi: Karnataka cooperation minister KN Rajanna resigned on Monday amid a political uproar over his remarks that appeared to blame his own Congress government for alleged 'vote theft' in the Mahadevapura assembly segment. The seat falls under the Bangalore Central Parliamentary Constituency, where the BJP won in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Karnataka governor Thawar Chand Gehlot accepted Rajanna's resignation after chief minister Siddaramaiah forwarded it to the Raj Bhavan. Rajanna, a known Siddaramaiah loyalist, had earlier submitted his resignation to the CM.
The controversy erupted after Rajanna said that irregularities in the voter rolls occurred "right in front of our eyes" when the Congress was in power in Karnataka. His comments came days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged there were over one lakh bogus voters in Mahadevapura, accusing the BJP of 'vote theft'. Gandhi made the claims during a press conference in New Delhi and later at a public meeting in Bengaluru, emphasising that the BJP came to power at the Centre through such manipulation.
Speaking to reporters, Rajanna said: "When was the voter list prepared? It was prepared when our own government was in power. At that time, was everyone just sitting quietly with their eyes closed? These irregularities did take place — that's the truth."
The remarks drew reactions from within his party. Deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar said: "K N Rajanna is completely wrong. He doesn't know the facts. My chief minister will respond, and the party will also issue a reaction."
The opposition BJP seized on the comments, with state leader R Ashoka questioning: "Is Siddaramaiah the next target after his removal?" BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said Rajanna was forced to resign for daring to "show the mirror and expose the flaws in Rahul Gandhi’s arguments".
"In another blow to Rahul Gandhi's fake 'Vote Chori' campaign, Karnataka cooperation minister K N Rajanna, a tall Valmiki leader and considered close to Siddaramaiah, admitted, 'Voter rolls were prepared during the Congress' tenure.' He even asked why no one spoke up when these rolls were prepared under Congress rule," Malviya wrote on social media platform X.
