Karnataka CM meets Congress leadership over minister Nagendra's political future amid calls for his resignation

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar held discussions with the Congress central leadership in Delhi on Thursday, addressing mounting Opposition calls for Planning and Statistics Minister B. Nagendra's resignation alongside pressure from party legislators seeking cabinet and board positions.

The meeting included Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, though clarity on Nagendra's future remained elusive with party general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal away in Kerala for Onam and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge stating in Kalaburagi that he was unaware of any changes. The Governor has reportedly sought legal opinion on a Central Bureau of Investigation request for prosecution sanction in the matter.

Central leadership retains final say

Kharge dismissed speculation about an imminent cabinet reshuffle or organisational overhaul, asserting that such decisions rest strictly with the central command. "Any inclusion to or removal from the cabinet will have to be done with my consultation. I have received no proposal on the matter," he said.

The party's internal assessment suggests the Governor has yet to grant prosecution sanction in cases involving Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and former BJP Minister M.P. Renukacharya, with Congress sources alleging the BJP is "playing politics" to target Nagendra while protecting its own ST leader and former Minister B. Sriramulu.

Women's induction, legislator demands on agenda

Thursday's meeting also covered the possible induction of a woman into the cabinet, with four candidates under consideration for one potential slot and multiple combinations being evaluated, according to party sources. The deliberations come amid sustained pressure from sitting legislators seeking ministerial berths.

Separately, around 10 Congress MLAs are scheduled to meet general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday morning to demand "honourable posts" matching their seniority when heads of boards and corporations are nominated. The group includes Ashok Pattan, A.C. Srinivas, Kone Reddy, Basanagouda Daddal and Hampangouda Badarali, with some departing Bengaluru on Thursday and others on Friday.

"We are not looking at Cabinet berths since it is a closed chapter. We will seek posts that will befit our seniority and some random board or corporation will not be accepted," Pattan told reporters in Bengaluru, adding that 23 Congress legislators have received neither ministerial positions nor board appointments. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president B.K. Hariprasad has also pressed for recasting board and corporation appointments to accommodate party workers who have had no opportunities.

Source: The Hindu