Tears, resignation and corruption row: B Nagendra quits Karnataka Cabinet

Nagendra, who broke down during the press conference announcing his resignation, insisted that he had stepped down voluntarily and denied that the Congress high command had asked him to quit.

Asked by the media whether the party leadership had directed him to resign, Nagendra said, "No, I take my own decisions."

Nagendra denies allegations

Addressing reporters, Nagendra said he believed in the Constitution and questioned the BJP's allegations against him.

"We asked the BJP many times to come and discuss the allegations against me in the Assembly, but they didn't. Where is the proof?" he said.

He accused the BJP of trying to "impose the Manusmriti" and alleged that the Opposition had an "anti-tribal mindset". He also claimed he was being targeted because he was a Dalit.

"I am resigning out of my own free will," Nagendra said before becoming emotional.

Valmiki Corporation row

The BJP has repeatedly raised allegations of irregularities involving around Rs 89 crore in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.

The controversy erupted in May 2024 after corporation accounts officer Chandrasekharan P died by suicide and left behind a note alleging unauthorised transfers of funds.

Subsequent investigations found that large sums had been moved from the corporation's bank accounts to various other accounts.

Nagendra, who was then serving as Tribal Welfare Minister in the Siddaramaiah government, resigned in June 2024 amid the controversy.

Re-inducted after leadership change

Nagendra was re-inducted into the Karnataka Cabinet on August 3 after DK Shivakumar replaced Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister. He was given the Planning and Statistics portfolio.

His return to the Cabinet had drawn fresh criticism from the BJP, which has made the alleged corruption issue a major attack on the Congress government.

BJP's 200-km padayatra

Nagendra's resignation comes ahead of a 10-day BJP foot march planned from Raichur to Ballari from September 1 to 10.

The BJP has said the 200-km padayatra will highlight what it describes as the Congress government's failures, including alleged corruption, farmer distress, unemployment and irregularities in recruitment.

Nagendra's re-induction was expected to be one of the key issues raised during the march. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi is scheduled to inaugurate the protest, according to Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra.

From BJP to Congress

Nagendra began his electoral career with the BJP, winning in 2008. He contested as an independent from Kudligi in 2013 before joining the Congress in 2018.

He subsequently won twice from the Bellary constituency, which is reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

Nagendra said he did not want to provide the BJP with an additional issue ahead of its planned protest march.