Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday, 29 August confirmed he would forward the resignation letter of B. Nagendra, former Minister for Planning and Statistics, to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot the same day. Nagendra stepped down from the Cabinet amid a deepening political controversy over the alleged Valmiki Corporation scam, which has roiled the ruling Indian National Congress government in Karnataka.

What Shivakumar Said

Addressing reporters in Mysuru, CM Shivakumar maintained that Nagendra had tendered his resignation voluntarily to shield the Congress from further embarrassment. 'The man has come and voluntarily submitted his resignation to avoid embarrassment to the party. I am sending the resignation letter to the Governor today,' Shivakumar said.

The Chief Minister also turned on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)), accusing the Opposition of prioritising political point-scoring over pressing state concerns. 'For them, politics is important. Drought and the lives of people are not important. They are not concerned about the welfare of the state. They do not want to discuss the Cauvery issue or how we are managing the drought,' he said.

Shivakumar alleged that the BJP and JD(S) had declined his invitation to raise issues through a formal Assembly notice, choosing instead to press ahead with a protest march focused on Nagendra's exit. He also made a pointed remark about personal rivalry: 'They are not able to tolerate that I have become the Chief Minister. The whole NDA is not able to digest this fact,' he said.

BJP Hits Back

Senior BJP leader and former minister B. Sriramulu rejected any responsibility for Nagendra's distress, pinning the blame squarely on the Congress. 'We are not responsible for the tears of Minister Nagendra. The Congress party is responsible for your tears,' Sriramulu said, addressing Nagendra directly. He also invoked the death of Chandrashekar, a Dalit officer who died by suicide, and alleged that the grief of his family continued to weigh on Nagendra.

BJP MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy took a sharper line, questioning whether the BJP had directed Nagendra's alleged financial decisions. 'Did we tell you to loot ₹187 crore and send it to 600 accounts? Did we advise you to ensure Tukaram's victory in the Lok Sabha election with that scam money? Did we ask you to send money to Mumbai, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh?' Reddy asked, referring to the allegations at the centre of the controversy.

The Valmiki Corporation Scam: Background

The alleged scam involves the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, with opposition parties claiming that funds were irregularly transferred to multiple accounts across states. The controversy has placed the Congress government on the defensive, particularly given Nagendra's portfolio and his community affiliations. The death of Chandrashekar, a tribal welfare officer linked to the corporation, has further intensified scrutiny.

This comes amid a broader period of political turbulence in Karnataka, where the Congress government — elected in May 2023 — has faced repeated challenges from a reinvigorated BJP-JD(S) alliance. Notably, the resignation and its handling will test how effectively the Congress can contain damage ahead of upcoming local body elections.

What Happens Next

With the resignation letter dispatched to the Governor, the formal process of accepting Nagendra's exit from the Cabinet is now underway. The BJP and JD(S) have signalled they will continue their protest offensive. Reddy's challenge — calling on MLAs and MPs from the region to resign and seek fresh mandates — suggests the political fallout is far from over.