Senior Congress leader R. Ramalinga Reddy resigned from the Karnataka Cabinet on Friday citing humiliation over being denied the Bengaluru Development portfolio. He remains a party member and legislator.
The resignation came less than 24 hours after portfolios were announced for the two-day-old government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Reddy, who was allocated the major and medium irrigation department, said he had been promised the Bengaluru Development portfolio, which went to Krishna Byre Gowda. Reddy signed his resignation letter in front of the media and said he would send it through his personal secretary. “I have been humiliated time and again, cannot take it anymore,” he said. He added that he had spent 53 years in the Congress and would continue as an MLA. Shivakumar described Reddy as a close friend and said the issue would be resolved. State Home Minister Priyank Kharge and Congress State President B.K. Hariprasad also indicated they would speak with Reddy. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka criticised the ruling party over the development.
