Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy Resigns, Then Returns After Portfolio Dispute
Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy resigned on June 5, 2026, over a portfolio dispute, feeling humiliated after being denied the Bengaluru Development portfolio. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar held a late-night meeting with Reddy, and Congress leadership persuaded him to remain in the cabinet. The resignation was rejected, and Reddy agreed to continue, ending the crisis for the three-day-old state government.
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Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy Says Not Expecting Additional Portfolios
Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy stated on June 8, 2026, that he is not expecting any additional portfolios and will not ask for them. Speaking to media in Bengaluru, he noted that 20 more ministers are yet to be sworn in. When asked about speculation regarding him receiving more portfolios, he declined to comment on whether the party high command understood his 'pain.' Regarding the Bengaluru development portfolio—over which he had previously sent his resignation to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar—Reddy said he no longer wants it even if offered. He claimed he never lobbied for cabinet positions and has limited contacts in Delhi, having visited the capital only three times in the last three years on official business.
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Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced that the resignation issue of senior minister Ramalinga Reddy has been resolved after a late-night meeting on June 5, 2026. Reddy had resigned over dissatisfaction with his portfolio allocation, specifically being given the water resources portfolio instead of the promised Bengaluru Development portfolio. The meeting lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours at a private hotel in Jayanagar. While Shivakumar stated the matter is settled, sources close to Reddy indicate the situation remains unchanged, and Reddy may appeal to the Congress central leadership. The resignation had posed the first major political challenge to the three-day-old Shivakumar-led government. Another notable exclusion from the cabinet is former health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, whose wife posted a cryptic tweet about merit and caste in politics.
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Senior Congress leader and eight-time MLA Ramalinga Reddy resigned from the Karnataka Cabinet on June 5, 2026, over dissatisfaction with his portfolio allocation. Following a series of marathon meetings involving Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, and KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad, the party leadership rejected his resignation on June 6. Reddy stated that the leadership assured him his concerns would be addressed at an appropriate time and made clear they wanted him to continue. The Chief Minister held a nearly two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Reddy late Friday night, with further talks continuing into Saturday. Reddy confirmed he would respect the party's decision and remain in the Cabinet, ending the uncertainty over his future.
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Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy, who resigned as a minister in Karnataka's cabinet on June 3 after being unhappy with his portfolio allocation, is expected to meet Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on June 6 to discuss the matter. The crisis appeared to be resolved after Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar held a late-night meeting with Reddy on June 5, lasting nearly two-and-a-half hours at a private hotel in Jayanagar. Reddy had previously stated he felt 'humiliated' by the portfolio assigned to him. Senior Congress leaders and Reddy's close associates were also involved in the discussions. The meeting went on until the early hours of June 6, and Shivakumar confirmed that the issue had been resolved.
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Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced early on June 6, 2026, that the political crisis triggered by Minister Ramalinga Reddy's resignation over portfolio allocation has been resolved. Shivakumar met Reddy for nearly two-and-a-half hours at a private hotel in Jayanagar late on June 5, with senior Congress leaders and Reddy's associates also involved. Reddy had resigned on June 5, alleging that assurances regarding the Bengaluru Development portfolio were not honored in the newly formed Shivakumar government. After the meeting, Shivakumar described the issue as a 'family matter' and a 'miscommunication,' expressing confidence the government would move forward unitedly. Reddy echoed the Chief Minister's remarks, confirming the resolution. The incident marked the first major political challenge for the three-day-old Congress government in Karnataka.
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Senior Congress MLA and eight-time Bengaluru representative Ramalinga Reddy resigned from his position as Water Resources Minister on June 5, 2026, citing humiliation after being denied the Bengaluru Development portfolio. Reddy, who had been promised the portfolio by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, signed his resignation letter in front of the media and stated he would remain in the Congress party and continue as a legislator. The decision followed days of speculation that the Bengaluru Development portfolio would go to Krishna Byre Gowda, with the central leadership reportedly refusing to change the allocation. Reddy's supporters staged protests in his BTM Layout constituency. Former Minister H.K. Patil described the resignation as a 'wake up call' for party leaders to resolve the matter justly. Reddy has served in multiple state governments over decades and is seen as a key figure ahead of elections to five corporations in the Greater Bengaluru Authority region.
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Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy announced on June 5, 2026, that he will resign as Karnataka minister, expressing displeasure over his portfolio allocation. Reddy, who wanted the Bengaluru Development portfolio, was instead assigned Major and Medium Irrigation projects by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. At a press conference in Bengaluru, Reddy stated he could not 'work against conscience' and felt humiliated. The resignation is a major setback for the Shivakumar government, which came to power just two days earlier. A last-ditch attempt by Congress leadership to persuade Reddy during the press conference failed, as he remained firm in his decision.
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