Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader and Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy has resigned from the cabinet led by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, reportedly expressing strong dissatisfaction over the portfolio allocated to him, reported HT.
Reddy, an eight-time MLA and a senior figure in Karnataka politics, is said to have stepped down shortly after expressing unhappiness with the department assigned to him in the newly formed cabinet. Sources cited in reports indicate that he was expecting a key portfolio, reportedly Bengaluru Development, but was instead allotted a different department.
Reddy, as cited in the HT report, said he would not work against his “conscience” and cited “humilitation.” His resignation is being linked directly to disagreements within the cabinet over the distribution of important portfolios following the formation of the new government.
The incident has highlighted growing friction within the ruling Congress government in Karnataka over cabinet arrangements. Party insiders suggest that discussions over key ministries had already triggered tensions among senior leaders before the final allocation was announced.
The episode comes at a sensitive time for the government, as Chief Minister DK Shivakumar finalised the distribution of portfolios among newly inducted ministers.
Reddy’s move is being seen as a rare public expression of dissent from a senior cabinet member within the state government. The development is likely to add pressure on the leadership to revisit or renegotiate ministerial responsibilities to maintain internal balance.
The Karnataka cabinet was recently expanded and portfolios were allocated among 13 ministers after a delay caused by internal lobbying and negotiations over key departments.
