Karnataka Minister for Planning and Statistics B. Nagendra, who is an accused in the alleged tribal welfare fund irregularities case, is reportedly set to resign from the Karnataka Cabinet on 26 August, as mounting Opposition pressure and internal Congress dissent push the state government toward a political course correction.

The Phone Call That Set It in Motion

According to sources close to the development, Nagendra called Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and offered to step down, telling him that his continued presence in the Cabinet was causing 'unnecessary embarrassment' to the party. He reportedly conveyed to the Chief Minister that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was specifically targeting him and that he was prepared to resign to protect the Congress's political image.

Shivakumar is learnt to have responded by telling Nagendra that he would refer the matter to the Congress high command and seek its approval before formally accepting the resignation. The high command had been closely involved in the recent Cabinet expansion, and the Chief Minister is understood to be awaiting its clearance before proceeding.

BJP's Raichur-to-Ballari Padyatra Turns Up the Heat

The resignation move comes amid a sharp escalation in Opposition activity. The Karnataka BJP announced a 200-km padyatra from Raichur to Ballari, scheduled between 1 and 10 September, with Nagendra's resignation as its stated central demand. Ballari is Nagendra's native district, making the march a pointed political statement.

The controversy also triggered repeated disruptions in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and contributed to the abrupt conclusion of the Assembly session. This is not the first time that a Cabinet induction has unravelled under sustained Opposition pressure in the state — the pattern underscores the fragility of coalition arithmetic in Karnataka's Congress government.

Nagendra's Defence and the Dalit Angle

Nagendra had, at a recent press conference, pushed back against the calls for his ouster. He argued that the Opposition was targeting him specifically because he is a Dalit leader, framing the pressure as politically motivated rather than legally grounded. He maintained that being an accused does not amount to being a convict, and questioned the BJP's sustained campaign against his induction.

Notably, the tribal welfare fund case in which Nagendra is named as an accused involves alleged irregularities — the specifics of which remain under investigation. No conviction has been recorded against him.

Internal Congress Pressure Adds to the Crisis

Beyond the Opposition offensive, the episode has reportedly deepened fault lines within the Congress itself. Several senior leaders who were excluded from the recent Cabinet expansion are said to be unhappy with the party leadership and have questioned the decision to bring Nagendra into the ministry. This internal dissent has added a second layer of political risk for the Shivakumar-led government.

Sources indicated that Nagendra could formally submit his resignation later on Wednesday, contingent on the Congress high command's approval. With both external pressure and internal friction converging, the Congress leadership is reportedly treating the resignation as the most viable way to contain the fallout and stabilise the government ahead of the BJP's September march.