Karnataka Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna resigned after alleging that “vote theft” took place during the Congress government’s tenure in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His comments contradicted the party’s official stand and embarrassed the Congress high command.
The decision to quit followed pressure from party leadership, which asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to remove him. The resignation has not only triggered a political row but also exposed deep internal rifts in the state Congress, raising questions about leadership unity ahead of crucial political months.
Congress Acts After Public Row
In his controversial public statements, Mr. Rajanna said that during the time Congress was in power, there were anomalies in the electoral rolls. Since Rahul Gandhi had organized a demonstration against “vote theft” in Bengaluru on August 8, 2025, this ran directly counter to the party’s message.
The high command quickly intervened, directing the Chief Minister to sack him. Sources said his son, Rajendra, an MLC, handed over the resignation letter to the CM.
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Tense Assembly Moments
When the Opposition BJP sought clarity in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Rajanna told the House that the CM would make a statement. The Chief Minister is expected to formally announce the resignation in the Assembly. The swift sequence of events underscored the leadership’s urgency in containing political damage.
Loyalist Turned Liability
Rajanna, a close aide of Siddaramaiah, has a history of controversial statements. He repeatedly pushed for the removal of Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar from the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee presidency.
He also demanded the creation of more deputy CM posts to weaken Shivakumar’s influence. Recently, he hinted at “a major political development” in September, suggesting a change in leadership.
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Caste Equations & Cabinet Instability
Rajanna belonged to the Valmiki community and was recently removed as Minister-in-Charge of Hassan district. His exit follows that of B. Nagendra, who resigned over an alleged scam in the Valmiki Development Corporation.
Both ministers came from the Scheduled Caste community, a fact that could create ripples in the party’s caste balance strategy.
Internal Power Struggles Come to the Fore
Simmering tensions within the Congress leadership are shown in this episode. The dismissal of a CM supporter by the high command shows their preference for the party’s reputation.
It also suggests that internal rifts will not be tolerated, and that too, particularly if it contradicts the party’s cohesive election platform. With Rajanna’s exit, the Congress now faces the dual challenge of maintaining public credibility while managing fragile internal power equations.
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