A fresh political challenge has emerged for the Karnataka government after senior Congress leader R Ramalinga Reddy tendered his resignation from the state cabinet, citing dissatisfaction over the portfolio allocated to him.
The resignation comes just two days after taking oath as a minister and that too at a politically significant moment when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was in Bengaluru. The resignation triggered internal discussions surrounding cabinet portfolio distribution within the ruling party.
Announcing his resignation, Reddy alleged that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had gone back on an earlier assurance related to the Bengaluru Development portfolio. According to Reddy, he was told in 2023 that he would be given charge of the department when Shivakumar assumed the chief minister’s post after two-and-a-half years.
Explaining about his resignation, Reddy told the reporters that he has been humiliated time and again and cannot take it anymore.
The Bengaluru Development department is considered one of the most influential portfolios in the Karnataka government because of its role in overseeing infrastructure planning and development projects in the state capital.
Reddy’s remarks indicate that he expected to be entrusted with the department based on earlier discussions within the party. However, the final portfolio allocation did not go as anticipated, leading to his decision to step down from the ministry.
The veteran Congress leader stressed that his resignation was limited to his ministerial position and did not reflect any intention to distance himself from the party.
The resignation has brought internal cabinet dynamics into focus and is likely to intensify discussions over portfolio allocation within the Karnataka Congress at a time when the new government is still settling into office.