Bengaluru: The newly formed Congress government in Karnataka, led by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, has been hit by a major political setback within days of assuming office. Senior Congress leader and eight-time MLA Ramalinga Reddy resigned from the state cabinet on Friday, expressing strong dissatisfaction over the portfolio allocated to him. The resignation came just hours after the official notification of ministerial portfolios was issued, exposing cracks within the ruling Congress at an early stage.
According to political sources, Reddy’s decision was driven by the Chief Minister’s failure to fulfill an alleged promise regarding the Bengaluru Urban Development portfolio. Addressing the media, Reddy claimed that DK Shivakumar had assured him that he would be entrusted with the Bengaluru Urban Development Department once he became Chief Minister. However, the portfolio was ultimately allotted to Krishna Byre Gowda, prompting Reddy to step down in protest.
The veteran leader, who previously served as Transport Minister in the Siddaramaiah government, also voiced displeasure over being assigned the Major and Medium Irrigation Department. Reddy stated that he had no prior experience in the irrigation sector and criticized the leadership for repeatedly overlooking his seniority despite his long political career spanning several Congress administrations. He maintained that he had never sought positions for personal gain but felt his stature within the party had been undermined.
The development has raised concerns within Congress ahead of the upcoming Bengaluru local body elections, as Ramalinga Reddy is considered an influential leader in the region. Following the resignation, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar held emergency discussions with Reddy and Krishna Byre Gowda at Vidhana Soudha. He later met former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to discuss possible measures to resolve the crisis. Senior party leaders are also reportedly attempting to persuade Reddy to withdraw his resignation.
The situation has further highlighted growing competition for key portfolios within the Karnataka Congress. Several senior leaders are believed to be dissatisfied with the distribution of departments, adding to the challenges facing the party leadership. Political observers say the unrest within the cabinet could test the stability and cohesion of the newly formed government in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has retained key departments, including Finance, Cabinet Affairs, Intelligence, and Personnel and Administrative Reforms. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara has been allotted Revenue and Sports, while Priyank Kharge has been entrusted with the Home Department (excluding Intelligence), along with Information Technology, Biotechnology, and E-Governance. Yathindra, son of Siddaramaiah, has been assigned the Urban Development portfolio, while Krishna Byre Gowda has been given charge of the Greater Bengaluru Development Department.