1 week ago
Karnataka Congress Minister Nagendra Set to Resign Amid BJP Pressure
B Nagendra is a minister in Karnataka’s Congress government.
The BJP says he should leave because of an alleged corruption case.
The BJP plans to march from Raichur to Ballari to demand his resignation.
Nagendra has reportedly offered to resign in the interest of his party.
The CBI says money was moved from a tribal development corporation and alleges that Nagendra received a bribe.
Nagendra denies the allegations and says central agencies are targeting him because of his community background.
Congress earlier said there was not enough direct evidence to remove him.
His resignation could also give Congress a chance to change the state Cabinet.
Minister B Nagendra has reportedly offered to resign as the BJP plans a 170-kilometre march demanding his removal.
The BJP alleges Nagendra was involved in the alleged diversion of funds from the Karnataka Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.
The CBI has charged Nagendra with allegedly receiving Rs 1.20 crore linked to a Rs 13.95 crore tender.
Congress previously rejected demands for Nagendra’s resignation, saying investigators had not produced direct evidence against him.
His departure could lead to a Cabinet reshuffle, including the possible induction of a woman and an OBC leader.
- Who
- Karnataka Minister B Nagendra, the Congress government led by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.
- What
- Nagendra is expected to resign amid a CBI corruption case and BJP demands for his removal.
- Where
- The political dispute is in Karnataka, with the proposed march running from Raichur to Ballari.
- When
- He reportedly offered to resign on Wednesday; the BJP’s planned padayatra is scheduled to begin on September 1.
- Why
- The BJP is seeking Nagendra’s resignation over alleged diversion of funds from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation; Congress is also facing pressure from the Governor’s possible action on a prosecution request.
Congress Government and Nagendra
Bharatiya Janata Party Opposition
Whether Nagendra should resign
Congress Government and Nagendra
Congress previously said Nagendra should not be removed because the allegations were not supported by documents directly showing his guilt. Nagendra has nevertheless reportedly offered to resign in the party’s interest.
Bharatiya Janata Party Opposition
The BJP says Nagendra should resign because the investigation has advanced to the chargesheet stage and he was reinducted into the Cabinet despite the case.
Evidence in the case
Congress Government and Nagendra
Nagendra rejects the allegations. Congress said the CBI’s charges were not substantiated with direct evidence, and a Karnataka SIT chargesheet did not name Nagendra or bank officials in the fraud case.
Bharatiya Janata Party Opposition
The CBI alleges that Nagendra received Rs 1.20 crore through an associate and relatives in connection with a tender, while the BJP says the investigation justifies his removal.
Political motivation
Congress Government and Nagendra
Nagendra alleges that central agencies conspired to frame him and that the BJP targeted him because he is from a backward tribal community.
Bharatiya Janata Party Opposition
The BJP alleges that the Congress government is protecting Nagendra and has questioned its moral justification for keeping him in the Cabinet.
Key facts
- Minister
- B Nagendra, Karnataka’s Planning and Statistics Minister, was inducted into the Shivakumar Cabinet on August 3.
- Planned protest
- The BJP announced a 170-kilometre padayatra from Raichur to Ballari beginning September 1.
- Alleged bribe
- The CBI alleges Nagendra received Rs 1.20 crore connected to a Rs 13.95 crore tender.
- Alleged fund diversion
- The case concerns the alleged transfer of Rs 94.73 crore from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation to 18 accounts linked to a Telangana firm.
- Earlier arrest
- The Enforcement Directorate arrested Nagendra in July 2024; a special court granted him bail in October 2024.
- Potential Cabinet changes
- Annapurna Tukaram could replace Nagendra, while Basavaraj Shivappanavar or M Krishnappa could fill another vacant ministerial position.
Quotes
D K Shivakumar
Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress leader
“There is nothing wrong in asking for the resignation of Minister B Nagendra in connection with the illegal transfer of funds of the Valmiki Development Corporation. But a notice should be given and a discussion should be held on this. An investigation has been conducted and a report has been received. The process of getting the money back is also on.”
indianexpress.com
“The case has not been closed. No clearance has been given. Instead, the investigation has progressed to the stage of filing a chargesheet. In such a situation, what moral justification does the government have for reinducting the same person into the Cabinet?”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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