Rahul Gandhi, Kharge in Bengaluru for RS nomination amid Karnataka Congress crisis
Synopsis
Rahul Gandhi and Kharge flew into Bengaluru for what was meant to be a show of Congress strength — Kharge's Rajya Sabha nomination filing. Instead, the visit was overshadowed by two senior Karnataka ministers publicly revolting over cabinet portfolios, exposing fault lines in the new Shivakumar government within days of its formation.
Key Takeaways
Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge arrived in Bengaluru on 5 June for Kharge's Rajya Sabha nomination filing at the Vidhana Soudha .
Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced his intention to resign, alleging CM D.K.
Shivakumar reneged on a promise to give him the Bengaluru Urban portfolio .
Reddy claims he was promised the portfolio after 2.5 years and that both Shivakumar and his brother D.K.
Suresh personally assured him at his residence.
Veteran leader and Minister K.H.
Muniyappa , a seven-time MP from the Dalit community , refused to assume charge of the Food and Civil Supplies Department and sought high command intervention.
Both dissents emerged within a day of the formal portfolio allocation, posing an early credibility test for the new Karnataka Congress government.
Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge arrived in Bengaluru on Friday, 5 June to participate in Kharge's nomination filing for the Rajya Sabha election from Karnataka, even as the newly formed Congress government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar faced a fresh internal crisis over cabinet portfolio allocations.
The Nomination Filing
Kharge filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha at the Vidhana Soudha, with Rahul Gandhi present alongside senior Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Mansoor Ali Khan. The delegation was received by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President B.K. Hariprasad, and former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Siddaramaiah.
Rahul Gandhi, arriving from Delhi, planted a sapling and watered it at Kempegowda International Airport upon landing — a gesture that drew attention on a day overshadowed by intra-party turbulence. Also present were AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and Minister M.B. Patil.
Ramalinga Reddy Threatens Resignation
The visit came on the same day that Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced his intention to resign from the Karnataka Cabinet, alleging that Chief Minister Shivakumar had reneged on a promise to give him the Bengaluru Urban portfolio. Speaking from his Koramangala office, Reddy said he would submit his resignation and leave it to the party leadership to decide whether to accept it.
Reddy claimed that during the government formation process, he was persuaded to accept a deferred arrangement — specifically, that he would receive the Bengaluru Urban portfolio after 2.5 years. He further alleged that Chief Minister Shivakumar and his brother D.K. Suresh had personally assured him of this at his residence. Despite those assurances, he was assigned the Water Resources portfolio instead.
Muniyappa's Dissatisfaction Adds to the Turmoil
In a separate but compounding development, veteran Congress leader and Minister K.H. Muniyappa expressed strong dissatisfaction over being allocated the Food and Civil Supplies Department and announced he would not assume charge of the ministry. Muniyappa also urged the Congress high command to intervene and correct the situation.
A seven-time Member of Parliament and current MLA from Devanahalli, Muniyappa represents the Dalit community and is regarded as one of the most senior figures in Karnataka Congress. A former Union Minister known for his long-standing party loyalty, he had previously held the Food and Civil Supplies portfolio — making his current objection to the same assignment all the more pointed.
Crisis Within Days of Government Formation
The twin dissents from Reddy and Muniyappa emerged just a day after portfolios were formally allocated, signalling deep fault lines within the new Karnataka Congress dispensation. This comes amid the broader backdrop of Kharge's Rajya Sabha nomination — a moment the party had intended to project unity and organisational strength. The high command's ability to contain the revolt swiftly will be closely watched, as any prolonged discord could undermine the government's early credibility.
Point of View
Only to be upstaged by a cabinet revolt that broke on the same day. Reddy's allegation of a broken promise — reportedly made by both the Chief Minister and his brother — points to a transactional style of government formation that courts exactly this kind of blowback. Muniyappa's refusal to take charge of a portfolio he has held before is a pointed signal that seniority and community representation were not adequately factored in. The high command now faces a familiar dilemma: intervene too visibly and it undermines Shivakumar's authority; stay hands-off and the revolts could multiply.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge visit Bengaluru on 5 June?
They travelled to Bengaluru for the filing of Kharge's nomination for the Rajya Sabha election from Karnataka, held at the Vidhana Soudha. Senior Congress leaders including Pawan Khera, Mansoor Ali Khan, and Randeep Singh Surjewala were also present.
Why did Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy threaten to resign?
Reddy alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar broke a promise to allocate him the Bengaluru Urban portfolio, assigning him Water Resources instead. He claimed Shivakumar and his brother D.K. Suresh had personally assured him at his residence that the Bengaluru Urban post would be his after 2.5 years.
Who is K.H. Muniyappa and why is he unhappy?
K.H. Muniyappa is a seven-time Member of Parliament, current MLA from Devanahalli, and a senior Dalit leader in Karnataka Congress. He expressed strong dissatisfaction over being allocated the Food and Civil Supplies Department and announced he would not assume charge, urging the Congress high command to intervene.
How does this crisis affect the new Karnataka Congress government?
The twin dissents from Reddy and Muniyappa emerged within a day of formal portfolio allocation, signalling deep internal tensions in the Shivakumar cabinet. The revolts risk undermining the government's early credibility and put pressure on the Congress high command to mediate swiftly.
What is the Rajya Sabha election context for Mallikarjun Kharge?
Kharge, the AICC President, is seeking election to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. His nomination filing on 5 June was meant to be a moment of party unity, attended by top national and state Congress leadership, but was overshadowed by the cabinet portfolio dispute.
