Not vote, but 'attention chori': BJP

NEW DELHI: This is not "vote chori" but "attention chori", said Union minister and Karnataka BJP senior Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday as he highlighted how state minister KN Rajanna was sacked from the state cabinet after Congress sought action against him for criticising Rahul Gandhi for his allegations.

Congress's "vote chori" narrative was a ploy to ensure that it got some attention, Joshi said, adding that the party had indulged in another forgery and fraud as its claim about Shakun Rani's double voting - in Mahadevapura assembly constituency - was false and the Karnataka CEO had also debunked it. "A criminal case should be filed against them for spreading fake documents ," he said.

The CEO on Sunday issued a notice to Rahul, asking him to share documents based on which he alleged that Rani had voted twice.

On Rajanna's resignation, Joshi said, "He is considered very close to Siddarmaiah. As far as I know, CM instructed him that you would have to resign. But Rahul gave a message that he has to be sacked. The message was not to accept his resignation... If someone tells the truth, that person is removed immediately. He is a 72-year-old ST leader... It is their greatest insult to democratic institutions and also to the community which he represents."

Joshi said Rajanna was removed as he pointed out that EC at the district and assembly segment level means deputy commissioner/district magistrate and sub-divisional magistrate. So, if any mistake occurred, it did so during Congress's tenure.

Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra said Rahul does not have the patience to hear the facts. "When Rajanna has spoken the truth, when he has set the records straight, why is Rahul upset?" he said.