BENGALURU: Karnataka Planning and Statistics Minister B Nagendra is likely to resign as minister to avoid embarrassment to the Congress government. This follows Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s intervention over the issue after the CBI sought sanction to prosecute the minister in the multi-crore Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation scam. The governor has reportedly written to the government, seeking clarification on Nagendra’s continuation as minister, sources said.
After the governor’s communique, Nagendra reportedly spoke to Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and offered to resign. Shivakumar is now expected to discuss it with the high command during his visit to New Delhi on Thursday.
But Shivakumar said here on Wednesday that Nagendra is innocent, and that his Delhi visit has nothing to do with the minister’s offer to resign.
Nagendra’s offer could also be because of the opposition BJP’s planned 10-day padayatra from September 1, seeking his resignation. The march that will start from Raichur will culminate in Ballari, which is the ST Nayaka community belt, to set a narrative that the Congress government and its ST community minister had looted funds meant for the welfare of the community.
In Congress, everyone is a disciplined soldier: CM
At a press conference at his home office Krishna, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, “Though innocent, poor Nagedra had to resign from the cabinet two years ago because of our pressure in the interest of the party. This time, we have only taken the resignation. He is a party’s disciplined soldier and we have confidence in his leadership... There is no plan as such (to accept his resignation)."
Shivakumar claimed that he is going to Delhi to invite high command leaders to lay the foundation stone for a Congress Bhavan in Bengaluru and to discuss with lawyers the remedy for the Cauvery water issue. The Cauvery Water Management Authority on Tuesday directed the state to release water to Tamil Nadu.
“In Congress, everyone, including ministers, MLAs and workers, are disciplined soldiers,” Shivakumar said earlier in the morning, fuelling speculation over Nagendra’s resignation.
In Delhi, Shivakumar is likely to discuss the issue of giving representation to a woman in the cabinet as one seat is vacant and also reshuffle if the high command advises him to accept Nagendra’s resignation to save the government’s face, informed sources said.
As the news of Nagendra’s likely resignation spread, PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi left for Delhi to intensify lobbying for Kampli MLA JN Ganesh, also an ST Nayaka leader, to be inducted as minister. But Shivakumar is in favour of Sandur MLA Annapoorna, wife of Ballari MP E Tukaram -- an ST Nayaka leader again, sources said.
This would fell two birds with one stone as it will address issues of women’s representation and induction of an ST Nayakar leader. The one remaining slot will be filled by former chief minister Siddaramaiah’s loyalist and Byadgi MLA Basavaraj Shivannanavar, they added. “The CM is open to any decision as cabinet issues are weighing down on him,” a Congress MLA told The New Indian Express.
But Nagendra’s office clarified that his offer to resign is mere speculation.
