Senior Congress leader R Ramalinga Reddy resigned from the Karnataka cabinet on Friday, just two days after being sworn in as a minister. He expressed disappointment over being denied the Bengaluru development portfolio, which he claimed was promised to him by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
Announcing his decision in Bengaluru, Reddy stated that he could not continue in the ministry after Shivakumar allegedly failed to honour an assurance regarding the key portfolio. 'The resignation comes at a time when Rahul Gandhi is in town. I cannot work against my conscience, so I am resigning as minister,' said Reddy.
According to the veteran Congress leader, Shivakumar had assured him in 2023 that he would be given charge of the Bengaluru development department once he took over as chief minister after two and a half years. Reddy claimed that commitment was not fulfilled when portfolios were allocated following the latest Cabinet expansion. Expressing his disappointment, he said Shivakumar had 'done a U-turn' on the earlier understanding. 'I have been humiliated time and again, cannot take it anymore,' Reddy added.
Despite stepping down from the ministerial post, Reddy made it clear that he would remain with the Congress and continue as an MLA. 'I will continue to remain a Congress MLA and remain in Congress,' he said. The senior leader also highlighted his long association with the party, noting he had spent 53 years in the Congress and had no intention of leaving it. 'I am not angry, only disappointed,' he remarked.
Reddy further stated that he would not personally hand over his resignation to the chief minister and would instead send it through his personal secretary to the Chief Minister's Office. His resignation comes amid reports of dissatisfaction within sections of the Karnataka Congress over the distribution of portfolios in the newly formed ministry.
The newly inducted ministers include KH Muniyappa, KJ George, MB Patil, Ramalinga Reddy, Satish Jarkiholi, Krishna Byre Gowda, Priyank Kharge, UT Khader, Eshwara Khandre, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Byrathi Suresh, and Sharan Prakash Patil. On Wednesday, Congress leader DK Shivakumar took oath as the 34th chief minister of Karnataka at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan, marking a significant leadership transition in the state. Senior Congress leader G Parameshwara was also sworn in as the deputy chief minister.
Shivakumar took the oath of office while carrying a copy of the Constitution of India, underscoring the significance of the occasion. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by top Congress leaders, religious heads, and dignitaries from across the country.
