KN Rajanna Writes To Rahul Gandhi, Flags Organisational Lapses In Karnataka Congress

Last Updated:December 23, 2025, 15:12 IST

Karnataka Congress MLA KN Rajanna has written to Rahul Gandhi alleging organisational lapses within the KPCC and claiming his remarks on “vote theft” were misrepresented.

A file photo of Rahul Gandhi (PTI)

Karnataka Congress MLA KN Rajanna has written a detailed letter to party leader Rahul Gandhi, flagging what he described as serious organisational lapses within the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and seeking action against those who, according to him, misrepresented his recent statements and escalated an issue within the party.

Rajanna, the MLA from Madhugiri and a known supporter of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, said the purpose of his letter dated November 17, 2025, was to place facts before the Congress high command that he claimed were distorted in public discourse following his controversial “vote theft" remarks.

Rajanna, a former Cooperation Minister, was subsequently removed from the Siddaramaiah Cabinet on the instructions of the party high command, a development that triggered political churn within the state unit.

In the letter, Rajanna asserted his unwavering ideological commitment to the Congress party and the Nehru-Gandhi family, recalling his participation in agitations during the leadership of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

He underlined his continued loyalty to the party’s leadership and said his intention was not to create discord but to highlight organisational shortcomings that, he claimed, affected the party’s electoral performance.

Rajanna said he had fully supported Rahul Gandhi’s “vote chori" campaign and had actively participated in the programme during Gandhi’s visit to Bengaluru, extending what he described as his “full support" and appreciation for the initiative.

He stressed that his remarks should be seen in that context and not as an attempt to undermine the party leadership.

In a sharp internal critique, Rajanna alleged that several booth-level agents (BLAs) appointed by the KPCC failed to discharge their responsibilities effectively during the Lok Sabha elections.

He argued that greater vigilance by the KPCC leadership, including its president and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, as well as concerned party officials, could have prevented these lapses.

According to Rajanna, corrective measures at the organisational level could have helped the Congress secure an additional eight to ten seats in Karnataka.

He further claimed that similar improvements nationwide could have resulted in the party winning 30 to 40 more seats across the country, potentially altering the overall outcome of the parliamentary elections.

The Madhugiri MLA also highlighted the Congress’s electoral successes in Karnataka under Siddaramaiah’s leadership, pointing to the party’s victories in the 2013 and 2023 Assembly elections.

He made special reference to the Congress’s 2024 Lok Sabha victory in Hassan, which he noted came after a gap of 25 years.

Concluding his letter, Rajanna urged Rahul Gandhi to take action against those he alleged had misrepresented his statements and wrongly escalated the issue within the party.

He also sought an appointment with Gandhi to personally explain his position and discuss organisational matters in detail.

The letter comes amid an ongoing power tussle within the Karnataka Congress, even as the party leadership has repeatedly sought to project unity between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the behest of the high command.

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