Overview
- Rajanna’s November 17 letter to Rahul Gandhi, now public, claims Congress lost 8–10 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka due to lapses by KPCC chief D. K. Shivakumar and Booth Level Agents.
- He further contends that similar shortcomings nationwide cost Congress 30–40 seats, framing the losses as preventable; these figures are his assertions and are not independently verified.
- Responding a day after the leak, Shivakumar told reporters, “I am still inexperienced. I will seek training,” while describing himself as a long-time party worker who does not seek positions.
- He rejected media chatter about a January power transition and said he had not recently met the Congress leadership, offering no indication of internal changes.
- Rajanna, a Siddaramaiah loyalist who was dropped from the Cabinet earlier this year over remarks tied to the ‘vote theft’ campaign, has also sought action against those he says misrepresented his comments and has reportedly pressed for a change in the KPCC leadership.