Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on 6 June launched a pointed attack on the ruling Indian National Congress in Karnataka, targeting the party's escalating internal tensions over Cabinet portfolio allocation in the newly formed state government. Ashoka described the Congress's internal disputes as a near-daily affair, questioning the stability of the administration led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Ashoka's Sharpest Barbs

Ashoka did not hold back in his criticism, quipping that “Kannadigas may one day wake up to a morning without the sun, but not a day without INC Karnataka infighting.” He alleged that central Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, and Randeep Singh Surjewala, had been making repeated visits to Bengaluru to manage the state unit’s internal disputes. Ashoka sarcastically suggested the trio “might as well rent a permanent office, or better still, buy a house in Bengaluru,” given the frequency of such interventions.

Ministers Openly Voice Dissatisfaction

The immediate trigger for Ashoka’s remarks was a series of public grievances aired by senior Congress ministers. Ramalinga Reddy, Minister for Water Resources, announced his resignation from the Karnataka Cabinet on Friday, alleging that Chief Minister Shivakumar had reneged on a promise to allocate him the Bengaluru Urban portfolio. Reddy claimed that both Shivakumar and his brother D.K. Suresh had personally assured him at his residence that the promise would be honoured, only for him to be assigned Water Resources instead. “It’s about humiliation. How much should I tolerate? I ask the media, what else should I have done?” Reddy said, while clarifying he would continue as an MLA and remain within the Congress party.

In a separate but related development, veteran Congress leader and minister K.H. Muniyappa expressed strong dissatisfaction over being allocated the Food and Civil Supplies Department, announcing he would not assume charge of the ministry. Muniyappa has also reportedly urged the party high command to intervene and rectify the situation.

Ashoka’s Broader Political Charge

Ashoka broadened his attack beyond portfolio disputes, alleging a contradiction between the Congress’s public ideology and its internal conduct. He claimed that while Congress leaders invoke the names of social reformers such as Basavanna and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar while taking oaths, there is intense competition over ‘powerful portfolios’ once in office. He further alleged that departments related to Social Welfare and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes welfare are less sought after compared to other key ministries — a charge the Congress has not yet formally responded to. He also pointed to what he described as inadequate representation of women in the state Cabinet.

Congress Stance and What Comes Next

Despite the public expressions of discontent, Congress leadership has maintained that “everything is fine” within the Karnataka government. Ashoka dismissed this, arguing that the visible dissatisfaction among ministers contradicts the party’s official line. Notably, the portfolio row erupted just a day after the formal allocation of ministerial portfolios, suggesting the reshuffle process itself failed to build internal consensus. Whether Reddy’s resignation will be accepted by the leadership, and how the high command manages Muniyappa’s dissent, will be closely watched in the coming days as the Shivakumar government attempts to stabilise its footing.