Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy resigned as Karnataka minister on Friday, days after taking oath and appointment to the DK Shivakumar cabinet in the state. While announcing that he would tender his resignation, Reddy said he would not act against his “conscience” and cited “humiliation.”
“I am resigning from my post because I cannot act against conscience,” he said at a press conference in Bengaluru, PTI reported. Reddy was unhappy about being allocated a portfolio in the state government. He said he wanted the Bengaluru development portfolio, but was instead appointed Minister for Major and Medium Irrigation Projects.
“How long could I endure this humiliation, and what other options did I have?” Reddy said. Karnataka Chief Minister Shivakumar was allotted the portfolios on Thursday. While the Congress tried to convince Reddy midway through the press conference, he remained firm on his decision. He also told the leaders who called him to convey the leadership’s messages that it was too late for them to listen to any suggestions, PTI reported.
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Meanwhile, Shivakumar said there was “nothing to worry about”, while describing Reddy as a “great friend”. “There is nothing to worry about. He is a great friend. We are the closest friends in the Cabinet. We will solve the problem,” ANI quoted the Karnataka state president as saying.
“He is still in the Congress party,” explains Ramalinga Reddy
However, while conveying his decision to resign from his post as minister, Reddy made it clear that he will remain a member of the Congress party and an MLA.
“I am still in the Congress party, I have not resigned from the party. I have been in the Congress party for 53 years,” Reddy said, adding that he had “already taken up many responsibilities within the party.”
Reddy said he had never asked for or lobbied for a ministerial post, while highlighting his previous stints as a minister in previous Congress governments. “I have served as a minister in the governments of former prime ministers M Veerappa Moily and SM Krishna, among others,” PTI quoted him as saying.
CM Shivakumar allocates portfolios to 13 ministers
Shivakumar, who was elected leader of the Congress legislature party after former chief minister Siddaramaiah resigned on May 30, has allotted portfolios to the 13 ministers who were sworn in alongside him on June 3.
While Deputy CM G Parameshwara has been appointed to the Revenue and Sports portfolios, Priyank Kharge has been handed over to the Home (except Intelligence), retaining the IT and Biotechnology departments which he had handled in the previous Siddaramaiah government.
KJ George has retained the energy ministry and has also been appointed for tourism, MP Patel has retained the large and medium industries portfolio, and Satish Jarikoli will continue to take charge of the public works ministry, according to an earlier HT report. KH Muniyappa held food and civil supplies, while Sharan Prakash Patil continued to hold the medical education portfolio. Krishna Bair Gowda was given the charge of urban development in Bengaluru, which was what Reddy was after.
Meanwhile, Birathi Suresh has been allotted transport department, Siddaramaiah’s son Yatindra has been given urban development, UT Khader will head the health department, and Ishwar Khanderi has been given rural development.
