After Ramalinga Reddy, Muniyappa Voices Discontent, DKS Promises To Resolve Issue
5 Jun 2026 1:17 PM IST5 Jun 2026 1:17 PM IST
Muniyappa was allotted Food and Civil Supplies portfolio, though he wanted to be Social Welfare or Agriculture Minister
Muniyappa stated “In portfolio exercise, leaders should have kept a balance in the ministry formation” and he said in a letter addressed to president of All India Congress Committee (AICC) Malikarjun Kharge to be fair and wanted “seniority in allocation of portfolio should be done.” — PTI
BENGALURU: Days after taking oath as a Cabinet minister, senior Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy on Friday announced his resignation from the Cabinet in the ministry led by D.K. Shivakumar, expressing dissatisfaction over allocation of portfolios. Another senior Congress leader and minister for food and civil supplies K.H. Muniyappa also expressed dissatisfaction over allocation of portfolios and urged the party leadership to review the exercise. He said he had appealed to the central leadership to ensure proper protocol and priority for senior legislators in portfolio allocation, and expressed hope that the issue would be addressed. “There should not be any confusion,” he said.
Reddy, who was recently sworn in as a Cabinet-rank minister, said he was denied the Bengaluru in-charge portfolio and instead assigned the Water Resources department. The Bengaluru in-charge role has been given to Krishna Byre Gowda.
Displaying his resignation letter at a press conference, he said, “I won’t tender resignation to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar personally but will send it through his office/close aides.” He added, “I was denied Bengaluru incharge twice” and said his decision was “Not to go against my conscience.”
Despite attempts by B.K. Hariprasad to speak with him, Reddy proceeded with the announcement. “Let them whatever they want to do,” he said, adding that he would continue as an MLA and remain in the Congress.
“Portfolio allocation has not been done properly,” Muniyappa said, adding that senior leaders should have been accommodated with due balance in the Cabinet. Referring to the resignation of Ramalinga Reddy over similar concerns, he said, “Ramalinga Reddy is a 8 time MLA. Even, I’m won 8 times and like that many leaders have won 7, 6 and 5 times as MLAs.”
Reddy said he had earlier been assured the Bengaluru in-charge responsibility when the Congress returned to power in 2023 under Siddaramaiah, but was instead given the transport portfolio. He said Shivakumar, then Deputy Chief Minister, along with D.K. Suresh, had assured him that the portfolio would be given to him later.
He said the assurance was reiterated before Shivakumar took oath as Chief Minister, but was not honoured.
Karnataka Chief Minister Shivakumar promised to discuss issues with the miffed leader and termed Reddy as an “important leader.”
Ramalinga Reddy said he will not comment when asked if he expected a change in his portfolio. “I was unreachable,” said Reddy on any efforts by the party high command to contact him. Reddy stated “I just returned from a visit to Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu to attend a function.” Over Chief Minister Shivakumar’s statement to convince him, Reddy said “I don’t know about it. If contacted I will update everyone.”
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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