Ramalinga Reddy to resign as Karnataka minister, unhappy with portfolio allocation

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective.

First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming.

Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day.

Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers

Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there

The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features.

Minister Ramalinga Reddy was allocated Major and Medium Irrigation projects portfolio. | Photo Credit: The Hindu

Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy on Friday (June 5, 2026) announced that he will tender his resignation from the post of minister, expressing displeasure over allocation of portfolio.

The minister said he wanted the Bengaluru Development portfolio but was made minister for Major and Medium Irrigation projects.

The resignation comes after Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar allotted the portfolios on Thursday (June 4) night.

"I am resigning from my post because I cannot work against conscience," Mr. Reddy said at a press conference in Bengaluru. "How long can I tolerate this humiliation and what else were options before me?" he added.

“Twice they called me and promised to give me that [Bengaluru Development] portfolio, but in the end it went to someone else. That is why I feel hurt. Therefore, today I am resigning,” Mr. Reddy told reporters, while asserting that he would continue in Congress and remain as MLA.

This was a major setback for the Shivakumar government, which came to power on Wednesday (June 3).

The Congress leadership made a last ditch attempt in the middle of the press conference to persuade the disgruntled minister, but he remained firm in his decision. He told the leaders who approached him with the party leadership's message that the time is now lapsed to pay heed to any suggestions.

A copy of Ramalinga Reddy’s resignation letter, addressed to Chief Minister D.k. Shivakumar.

Mr. Reddy, an eight-time MLA from Bengaluru, said he had never lobbied for ministerial office or sought any specific department from the party leadership during his five-decade-long political career.

“I never asked Siddaramaiah for the Bengaluru Development portfolio. He voluntarily offered it,” Mr. Reddy said, recounting events after the formation of the previous Congress government between 2013 and 2018. He also served as Transport minister under Siddaramaiah from May 2023 to