Two Days After Taking Office, Karnataka Minister R Ramalinga Reddy Resigns

Bengaluru, Karnataka: Two days after taking oath as Karnataka irrigation minister, senior Congress leader R Ramalinga Reddy has submitted his resignation reportedly citing dissatisfaction over the portfolio allotted to him.

Ramalinga Reddy, while thanking chief minister DK Shivakumar for including him in the state cabinet, said that he cannot function against his conscience. The swearing in was held along with the chief minister on June 3, Wednesday in Bengaluru.

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“I am still in the Congress party; I have not resigned from the party. I have been in the Congress party for the past 53 years. I have handled several responsibilities within the party.I have served as a minister in the cabinets of former Chief Ministers M. Veerappa Moily and SM Krishna, among others. I have never asked anyone to give me a ministerial position,” Reddy said in the press meet.

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Reddy reportedly expected the Bengaluru Development portfolio, a politically significant department overseeing the state capital, but he was assigned the Major and Medium Irrigation department. He claimed he was assured the department during internal discussions in 2023, with an understanding that he would receive it later in the power-sharing arrangement.

The former chief minister Siddaramaiah and and current chief minister  DK Shivakumar had reportedly indicated his portfolio as Bengaluru Development, though it was changed later. The veteran leader has been working in the party for over five decades, and has held portfolios including Transport, Home Affairs, Primary and Secondary Education & Sakala, and Food and Civil Supplies in the state cabinet.