The Karnataka Congress is witnessing visible fissures after Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna openly criticised the party’s handling of voter lists, just days after Rahul Gandhi alleged “vote theft” during
the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Rajanna, a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, took a direct swipe at the party’s own record, saying the irregularities in the rolls occurred while the Congress was in power.
“One should remember that voter lists were revised when our own government was at the helm,” Rajanna told reporters. “Why did our party turn a blind eye then? It is true that there are irregularities, but it is insulting for us that it happened right under our noses.”
Pointing out that the Election Commission had invited objections after publishing draft rolls, he said, “It becomes our responsibility to act in a timely fashion on issues like electoral rolls. We should have raised objections then, especially in the case of Mahadevapura, where there are many instances of malpractice. After keeping silent when we were supposed to talk, we are talking about it now.”
His remarks came in response to Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Bengaluru last week, where the Congress leader accused the Election Commission of bias and linked faulty voter rolls to defeats in key seats such as Bangalore Central.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s camp hit back sharply.
“The state government has decided to investigate the issue of vote theft and it has asked the Advocate General to submit a report,” Kunigal MLA HD Ranganath said.
“Talking negatively against our own party and government even before the investigation is over is unpardonable. The high command must take serious note of it and end such anti-party activities.”
The controversy has also given the BJP fresh ammunition, with former Mahadevapura MLA Aravind Limbavali saying, “Rahul should open his eyes at least now, as his own party members are reiterating what we have said. I will soon make a PowerPoint presentation on this in New Delhi.”
