Bangalore: K.N. Rajanna, the Karnataka minister for cooperation, has been “removed” from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s cabinet after he raised a question over his party’s “vote chori” allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It was unclear if Rajanna sent his resignation or the party removed him, but according to a Raj Bhawan official communique, the Governor spoke of his “removal”.
Rajanna was “let go” from the state cabinet for his earlier comments that voter list preparations in Karnataka took place under the nose of the Congress-led state government and that the Congress party, therefore, should be “ashamed” for letting it happen, party sources aware of the development told ThePrint.
This stand taken by Rajanna contrasts with Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, holding the BJP solely responsible for alleged voter list manipulations.
“I am directed to forward herewith the original notification, signed by the Hon’ble Governor, for removal of Sri K.N.Rajanna, Hon’ble Minister for Cooperation, from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect for further necessary action,” according to an 11 August letter sent by Special Secretary to Karnataka Governor R. Prabhushankar to Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh.
The development came while the Congress government was bracing to face a stormy monsoon session in the state legislature. The Opposition will likely raise the pitch on issues such as the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede, the shortage of fertilisers, the crumbling infrastructure in Bengaluru, and the growing funds crunch in the state.
The controversy broke out after Rajanna said Saturday, “When was the voter list done? It was during our government itself. We were people closing our eyes at the time. It is true that these violations happened. Nothing untrue about it. Since these violations happened in front of our eyes, we should feel ashamed for not observing them.”
Rajanna, a close aide of the CM and one of his strongest backers has rarely held back on his words, which have often landed him in trouble with his party.
Addressing the media on his removal from the Karnataka cabinet Monday, Rajanna said, “This is the party’s decision, and we cannot question the party high command at this given point in time. I will not divulge details that may embarrass the party high command.”
The senior leader also said that he would travel to Delhi to meet Rahul Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, and others, who possibly misunderstood his remarks.
He further told media persons, “You can say resignation, removal, or letting go … you may use any word … there is a big conspiracy and ploy behind it. Who did this, and who has discussed what with which leader … I will divulge this when the moment comes.”
The BJP was quick to point out that the Congress party gave ex-member of Siddaramaiah’s cabinet B. Nagendra the option of a gracious exit, even though there had been corruption charges against him in connection with the Valmiki Corporation. Rajanna, on the other hand, was immediately removed for criticising Rahul Gandhi’s latest campaign to highlight vote theft, the party highlighted.
‘Erratic behaviour’
Initially, responding to the news of his resignation, Rajanna had refused to comment.
Speaking to TV9 Kannada earlier, Rajanna said he was not aware if the high command was upset with him or not.
“I am not someone struck by power. Whatever the situation, I will make an appropriate decision,” he told TV9 earlier on Monday. “How do I know on which issue the high command is upset? Only if it says so, I will know.”
Inside the Karnataka assembly Monday, the Opposition questioned whether Rajanna had resigned, adding that the Congress leader was violating House rules by sitting in a place designated for a minister if he had.
In response, Rajanna said that Siddaramaiah will make a statement on the issue.
The Opposition then used Rajanna’s statement to mock the Congress leadership. Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra said Rajanna had held a “mirror” to the Congress and that the minister’s sacking exposed the party’s double standards of claiming to champion the fight to save democracy and ensure social justice but going completely against it.
“Senior minister K.N. Rajanna, who held a mirror to the Congress party’s flaws by saying ‘call a spade a spade’, has faced severe consequences … By highlighting the erratic behavior of Congress senior leader Rahul Gandhi, K.N. Rajanna, who was a voice for the Scheduled Castes and oppressed communities, has been sacked from his ministerial post. This proves that the Congress party’s culture of strangulating democracy has not yet ended, and the suppression of leadership from Scheduled Caste communities still persists,” B.Y. Vijayendra later wrote on X.
In July, Rajanna backed Siddaramaiah to continue as the CM for the entire term, adding that he expected a “revolution” (massive reorganisation) in the government in September.
Later that month, Rajanna questioned the review meetings conducted by Randeep Singh Surjewala, the party general secretary in charge of Karnataka, saying “It was not right on the part of Surjewala to do so. I am not happy with the exercise conducted by him.”
During the state budget session in March, Rajanna said on the floor of the House that there was a conspiracy to “honey trap” him, perceived then as an allegation against D.K. Shivakumar.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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