KN Rajanna | Karnataka CM's Close Aide & Ousted Minister Claims 'Conspiracy', Plans To Meet LoP

Karnataka Minister KN Rajanna was ousted by the Congress - Rahul Gandhi wanted him out and there could be further action against him, sources have said. The minister - whose comments about the alleged voter list tinkering by the Election Commission had hugely upset the party - was dropped after senior Congress leader KC Venugopal had a word with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, sources said. The allegation that the Election Commission is hand in glove with the BJP in introducing huge numbers of fake voters, is being spearheaded by Mr Gandhi. After his press conference on the matter and briefing to the INDIA bloc on Thursday - the matter has morphed into a massive political row. Amid this, Mr Rajanna's comment about the alleged voter list tinkering in Karnataka's Mahdevpura in 2024 -- the test case for the Congress - has punched holes in Mr Gandhi's allegations and played into the hands of the BJP. It was the Congress which was in power when the said tinkering took place, Mr Rajanna had said. Then he had pointed finger at his party in no uncertain terms -- saying the matter should have been flagged while it was happening and not now.