Karnataka minister questions Cong on vote theft, resigns

In Karnataka, Cooperation Minister and senior Congress leader KN Rajanna resigned from his cabinet post on Monday, after his comments on alleged electoral roll irregularities stirred a political storm within the party. The minister, a loyalist of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, had sparked row saying that irregularities in the electoral rolls -- which is the big allegation from the Congress camp -- occurred in the state when the Congress was in power. Rajanna had said last week that while irregularities had indeed occurred in the voter list, as claimed by senior party leader Rahul Gandhi, it had occurred when the Congress was in power. His candid admission contradicted the party’s current position and drew sharp criticism from Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

“When was the voter list prepared? It was during our government’s tenure," he went further, admitting, “These irregularities did take place, that’s the truth. They happened right in front of our eyes and we should feel ashamed. We didn’t act then, and we must be more alert in the future.” “When the draft rolls were made, it was our responsibility to object. Back then, we stayed quiet and now we are talking,” he said. His comments punch holes in the allegations of Congress's Rahul Gandhi -- that the Election Commission is taking orders from the BJP and helping introduce fake voters in the electoral rolls to engineer a victory for the party.. "There is no democracy within the Congress. If you tell the truth you are asked to resign," said senior BJP leader CT Ravi.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | On resignation of KN Rajanna from cabinet post, BJP leader R Ashok says, "He told the truth and that is why Rahu Gandhi, not Rahul Gandhi, issued a notice to Rajanna to suspend him. I had earlier said that there would be a revolution in October; it has… pic.twitter.com/Nfy7xR28RQ

— ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025

BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai said this shows “there is no place for truth in Congress.” Bommai added, “He had told the truth that all these voter lists were prepared during their regime… so he was axed. Truth is a casualty. One should only tell lies, pamper the leaders, and fool the people. This is the motto, principle, and aim of Congress.”

(State Correspondent)