Congress faces a fresh political crisis in Karnataka as Minister Ramalinga Reddy announces resignation over portfolio allocation disputes and senior leader K.H. Muniyappa expresses dissatisfaction. Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge arrive in Bengaluru amid growing tensions, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi targets the Congress government over leadership issues.
The newly formed Congress government in Karnataka found itself facing a major political challenge on Friday as internal differences over cabinet portfolio allocations triggered dissatisfaction among senior leaders. The situation intensified with Karnataka Minister for Water Resources Ramalinga Reddy announcing his decision to resign from the state cabinet, while veteran Congress leader and Minister K.H. Muniyappa expressed strong displeasure over the department assigned to him.
The developments unfolded as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge arrived in Bengaluru to participate in the filing of Kharge’s nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha election from Karnataka.
The crisis emerged only a day after the allocation of ministerial portfolios in the newly constituted government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Senior Congress leaders openly voiced their dissatisfaction, exposing growing tensions within the party at a crucial stage of governance.
Speaking to reporters from his office in Koramangala, Bengaluru, Ramalinga Reddy announced that he would submit his resignation to the party leadership. He alleged that promises made to him during government formation had not been honored.
According to Reddy, he had been assured that he would be given charge of the Bengaluru Urban portfolio after two-and-a-half years. He claimed that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and his brother, D.K. Suresh, had personally assured him that the commitment would be fulfilled. However, when the final list of portfolio allocations was announced, Reddy was assigned the Water Resources Department instead.
Reddy stated that despite repeated assurances from the leadership, the promised arrangement did not materialize. He said he would leave the final decision regarding his resignation to the party high command.
The Congress government also faced another setback as senior leader K.H. Muniyappa refused to take charge of the Food and Civil Supplies Department assigned to him. Muniyappa reportedly conveyed his disappointment to the party leadership and urged the Congress high command to intervene and rectify the situation.
Muniyappa is one of the most experienced leaders in Karnataka Congress politics. A seven-time Member of Parliament and current MLA from Devanahalli, he belongs to the Dalit community and has held several important positions in both state and national politics. He previously served as a Union Minister and has also handled the Food and Civil Supplies portfolio in the past.
Political observers believe the dissatisfaction among senior ministers could create early challenges for Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar as he attempts to stabilize his administration and balance competing interests within the party.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi arrived in Bengaluru along with senior Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Mansoor Ali Khan to attend the filing of Mallikarjun Kharge’s nomination for the Rajya Sabha election at the Vidhana Soudha. The presence of the top Congress leadership is being viewed as an effort to project unity amid signs of internal unrest.
Adding a political dimension to the controversy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the Congress government in Karnataka during a public address on Friday. He claimed that growing public dissatisfaction with the state government was forcing the Congress leadership to consider political adjustments, including discussions regarding a possible change in the chief ministership.
“There is considerable anger among the people of Karnataka regarding the Congress government. That is why Congress is being compelled to change its Chief Minister there,” Modi said.
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The unfolding developments have placed the Karnataka Congress government under intense scrutiny, with opposition parties closely monitoring the situation. As senior leaders continue to express grievances over portfolio allocations, the party high command is expected to play a critical role in resolving differences and maintaining stability within the government.
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