Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has sought to downplay the political fallout triggered by senior Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy's resignationfrom the state Cabinet, describing him as a close friend and assuring that efforts are underway to resolve the issue.
Responding to Reddy's surprise decision to quit the ministry over portfolio allocation, Shivakumar said there was no cause for concern and expressed confidence that the matter would be settled through discussions.
"Ramalinga Reddy is my colleague and our senior leader. He said that he cannot go to the village and work. He said that I should give him some other ministerial post. I will talk to Ramalinga Reddy and make everything right," Shivakumar said.
The chief minister further added, "Nothing to worry. He is a great friend. We are the closest friends among the Cabinet. We will sort out the problem."
The political drama happened on Friday when Ramalinga Reddy announced that he would step down as minister, citing disappointment over not being assigned the Bengaluru Development portfolio, which he claimed had been promised to him.
Instead, Reddy was given charge of the Major and Medium Irrigation Department after the Karnataka government finalised ministerial portfolios late Thursday night.
Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, the veteran Congress leader said he could not continue in office against his conscience.
Declaring his decision to resign, Reddy questioned how much longer he could endure what he described as repeated humiliation. According to him, assurances regarding the Bengaluru Development portfolio were made more than once, only for the department to be handed to another minister at the last moment.
Reddy, an eight-time MLA from Bengaluru and one of the Congress party's most experienced leaders in Karnataka, stressed that he had never lobbied for ministerial positions or sought specific portfolios during his long political career.
He recalled that during the Siddaramaiah-led government between 2013 and 2018, the Bengaluru Development portfolio had been offered to him without any request from his side. He also pointed out that before Shivakumar was sworn in as chief minister, he had met him only to discuss a recommendation for a Legislative Council seat and not to seek a ministerial berth.
The senior legislator maintained that even during the latest Cabinet formation process, he had not approached the party leadership or the Congress high command with demands for any particular department.
Despite efforts by party leaders to persuade him, Reddy remained firm on his decision to quit the ministry.
When asked whether he would withdraw his resignation if the leadership intervened or if he was later offered the Bengaluru Development portfolio, the Congress leader ruled out any reconsideration.
However, he clarified that his resignation was limited to the ministerial post and did not signal any rebellion against the party.
"I will remain in the Congress party and continue as a Congress MLA," he said, reiterating that his commitment to the organisation remained unchanged.
Even while expressing disappointment, Reddy avoided directly targeting any senior Congress leader.
He said he held no personal resentment towards Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, or the party's central leadership.
Reddy also indicated that he would not personally submit his resignation letter, preferring instead to send it through intermediaries.
The resignation presents the first significant political challenge for the Shivakumar-led Congress government, which was sworn in only days ago.
With ANI & PTI inputs
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