Veteran Congress leader and Karnataka Minister K.H. Muniyappa has publicly refused to assume charge of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, deepening the portfolio allocation crisis within the newly formed Karnataka government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Speaking in Devanahalli, Bengaluru Rural district, on Friday, 5 June, Muniyappa declared he would not take charge until the party high command corrects what he called a wrong done to him.

What Muniyappa Said

'I will not take charge of the Food Department,' Muniyappa stated plainly at Devanahalli. He reiterated that the party high command must recognise the seniority of leaders and rectify the portfolio allocation before he accepts any ministerial responsibility. 'Until then, I will not take charge of the ministry allotted to me,' he added.

Muniyappa, a seven-time Member of Parliament and current MLA from Devanahalli, pointed to his extensive administrative experience, including his tenure as a Union Minister in the UPA governments at the Centre. He argued that his seniority warranted a more substantial portfolio.

The Kharge and Siddaramaiah Factor

According to sources, a key source of discontent among senior ministers is the allocation of prominent posts to Priyank Kharge, son of All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Critics within the party reportedly view these appointments as having been made at the expense of senior, long-serving leaders.

Muniyappa, however, stopped short of personal criticism, saying he believes Mallikarjun Kharge — whom he described as being 'in a position like a mother' — will address and correct the issue. 'He should have taken everyone along. I believe he will address and correct the issue,' Muniyappa said.

High Command Alerted

Muniyappa confirmed he has brought the matter to the attention of senior Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, AICC General Secretaries Randeep Singh Surjewala and K.C. Venugopal, as well as Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He expressed confidence that the leadership would intervene to resolve the standoff.

A Pattern of Dissent

Muniyappa's refusal follows a similar act of dissent by senior Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who announced his resignation over portfolio allocation displeasure. The back-to-back episodes signal a broader undercurrent of resentment within the Karnataka Cabinet over how ministries were distributed after the Congress's emphatic victory in the state.

Notably, this is not the first time Muniyappa has been associated with the Food and Civil Supplies portfolio — he previously served as Minister for the same department. His daughter M. Roopakala Shashidhar is a two-time MLA representing the KGF seat, underlining the family's entrenched position within Karnataka Congress. As a leader from the Dalit community, Muniyappa is regarded as one of the most senior figures in the state unit, and his public dissent carries significant political weight.

With the Shivakumar government still in its early days, the high command faces mounting pressure to broker a settlement before the internal discord hardens into a full-blown factional crisis.