Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections from Karnataka at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Friday, 5 June, with the biennial polls scheduled for 18 June. The filing was accompanied by a show of party strength, even as the newly formed Karnataka Congress government faced its first serious internal crisis over portfolio allocation.

Key Arrivals and the Nomination Filing

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were present at the Vidhana Soudha for the occasion. Gandhi and Kharge flew into Kempegowda International Airport earlier in the day, where they were received by Shivakumar, newly appointed Congress state President B.K. Hariprasad, and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Siddaramaiah. Gandhi planted a sapling and watered it upon arrival at the airport.

Cabinet Revolt: Ramalinga Reddy Threatens Resignation

The high-profile nomination visit came against the backdrop of a simmering cabinet dispute. Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced on Friday that he would submit his resignation from the cabinet, alleging that Chief Minister Shivakumar had reneged on a promise to allocate him the Bengaluru Urban portfolio. Speaking from his Koramangala office, Reddy said he would leave it to the party leadership to decide whether to accept the resignation or not.

Reddy claimed he had been persuaded to accept a deferred arrangement during the government formation process, under which the Bengaluru Urban portfolio would be handed to him after 2.5 years. He further alleged that Shivakumar and his brother D.K. Suresh had personally assured him at his residence that the commitment would be honoured — assurances he says were subsequently set aside when he was allocated Water Resources instead.

Muniyappa Refuses to Take Charge of His Ministry

In a separate but related setback, veteran Congress leader and Minister K.H. Muniyappa publicly expressed strong dissatisfaction over his allocation to the Food and Civil Supplies Department, announcing he would not assume charge of the ministry. Muniyappa urged the party high command to intervene and correct the situation.

A seven-time Member of Parliament and current MLA from Devanahalli, Muniyappa hails from the Dalit community and is regarded as one of the most senior Congress leaders in Karnataka. A former Union Minister and a previous holder of the Food and Civil Supplies portfolio, his public dissent carries significant political weight within the party.

Context: A Government Less Than 48 Hours Old

The portfolio disputes emerged just a day after the new Congress government — headed by Chief Minister Shivakumar — assumed office on Wednesday. The twin expressions of discontent from Reddy and Muniyappa signal that factional tensions within the Karnataka Congress, which were suppressed ahead of the election victory, have resurfaced almost immediately after power was secured.

Notably, the simultaneous arrival of Kharge and Gandhi in Bengaluru — ostensibly for the Rajya Sabha nomination — is widely read as a signal that the central leadership is closely monitoring the situation on the ground. Whether the high command's presence will be enough to contain the revolt remains to be seen.