Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday, 26 August declined to rule out the resignation of Minister for Planning and Statistics B. Nagendra, signalling a possible shift in the government's stance as political pressure over the alleged tribal welfare department irregularities case continues to mount. Shivakumar's carefully worded response — describing all party members as 'disciplined soldiers' — has fuelled fresh speculation that the Congress government in Bengaluru may be reconsidering Nagendra's position in the Cabinet.

What Shivakumar Said

'In our party, be it leaders or ministers, all those in the party, whether a worker, minister or MLA, all of them are disciplined soldiers of the party,' Shivakumar said when asked about the developments surrounding Nagendra. He declined to elaborate further and left without taking additional questions.

The statement marks a notable departure from his earlier, more categorical assurances that Nagendra would remain in the Cabinet — a position he had publicly held until now.

Nagendra's Reported Resignation Offer

According to sources, Nagendra contacted Chief Minister Shivakumar by phone and offered to resign, stating that his continued presence in the Cabinet was unnecessarily causing embarrassment to the party. He reportedly told the Chief Minister that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was targeting him and that he was willing to step down to protect the party's image.

Sources further indicated that Shivakumar told Nagendra he would refer the matter to the Congress high command and seek its approval before accepting any resignation. Nagendra was reportedly likely to submit a formal resignation later on Wednesday, subject to that approval.

Governor's Role and Legal Exposure

The situation has grown more legally sensitive with Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot reportedly considering a request for sanction to prosecute Nagendra. Party insiders warned that if the Governor grants permission and Nagendra is subsequently taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the fallout for both the government and the party could be significantly greater.

Nagendra had recently defended his induction into the Cabinet, asserting that he was 'only an accused and not a convict.' He also alleged that the BJP was targeting him because of his identity as a Dalit leader.

BJP Pressure and Assembly Disruptions

The BJP has sustained a high-decibel campaign against Nagendra's Cabinet induction, repeatedly disrupting proceedings in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly — which ended its session abruptly amid the confrontation. The party's Karnataka unit has announced a 200-kilometre padayatra from Raichur to Ballari from 1 to 10 September to highlight what it describes as the failures of the state government. Ballari is Nagendra's native district, and his resignation is expected to be a central demand during the march.

Congress High Command to Decide

Ministers Priyank Kharge (Home) and Madhu Bangarappa (Primary and Secondary Education and Literacy) are learnt to have met Shivakumar at his residence to discuss the issue. Bangarappa, when asked about the reported developments, said he had no information about any resignation. 'I do not know any information in this regard. I have not discussed this matter. I do not have any information in this regard,' he said.

Shivakumar is scheduled to travel to New Delhi on Thursday and is likely to meet AICC General Secretary and Congress MP K.C. Venugopal, as well as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The Nagendra issue is expected to feature prominently in those discussions. Notably, the episode has also exposed internal Congress tensions, with several senior leaders reportedly unhappy about being left out of the recent Cabinet expansion that included Nagendra.