Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Saturday, 6 June expressed confidence that the political crisis surrounding his resignation from the state Cabinet would be resolved by the end of the day, noting that the Congress leadership had not yet accepted his resignation and that senior party figures were actively working to defuse the situation.

Key Developments

Speaking to reporters outside his residence in Koramangala, Bengaluru, Reddy confirmed that high-level discussions were already underway. AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala had personally spoken with him, while Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Reddy had met at a hotel to discuss the matter. Karnataka Congress President B.K. Hariprasad also reached out, urging unity. “Congress State President B.K. Hariprasad has also called me and told me that we should move together,” Reddy said.

What the Minister Said

Reddy was emphatic that his stance had not shifted, but that he was awaiting the outcome of further talks between Shivakumar and Surjewala before making any decision. “Let me see what decision they take. They are saying they will not accept the resignation,” he told reporters. He added: “I have not lost patience at any point. I would not have spoken to the media like this otherwise. I am confident all confusion will end by the evening.”

The Portfolio Dispute

The crisis was triggered on Friday, 5 June, when Reddy announced his resignation from the Cabinet, alleging that Chief Minister Shivakumar had reneged on an assurance to allocate him the Bengaluru Urban portfolio. Reddy, who was assigned the irrigation-linked Water Resources department instead, said he had limited familiarity with the portfolio. Notably, he was careful to clarify that he had not specifically lobbied for the Bengaluru Development portfolio — but that the assurance given to him had not been honoured.

Reddy’s Political Standing

Reddy, a veteran Congress legislator, underscored that his entry into the Cabinet was driven by party decisions rather than personal ambition. “I became a minister for the first time in 1993. I never lobbied for any post with any Chief Minister,” he said. The remark signals that his grievance is framed less as personal ambition and more as a question of trust within the party hierarchy.

What Happens Next

A second meeting between CM Shivakumar and Surjewala was expected later in the day to arrive at a final resolution. The Congress leadership’s reluctance to accept the resignation suggests the party is keen to avoid a public rift in Karnataka, where it holds a majority government. Whether Reddy withdraws the resignation formally or is reassigned a portfolio will determine the next chapter of this intra-party standoff.