Overview

• Rajanna says he was asked to resign on August 11 under orders from the Congress high command after he questioned his party’s handling of alleged voter-list irregularities and Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote theft’ claims.
• He alleges that operatives in Delhi conspired against him and that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah only discovered the decision during a phone call from the high command.
• After the Assembly session, Rajanna intends to meet senior leaders in New Delhi to seek clarification on his ouster and expresses confidence he can regain a ministerial berth this term.
• Unnamed party sources view his dismissal as strengthening Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s position relative to Siddaramaiah within the state Congress.
• In the meantime, Rajanna says he will focus on constituency development, highlighting a Rs 300 crore lake-filling project and Rs 30 crore secured from the Centre.