Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Karnataka CM Defends Nagendra Resignation Amid Tribal Welfare Scam
Karnataka’s government is holding a special meeting of its Assembly.
The meeting will discuss drought and the Kasturirangan Report.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the government made B. Nagendra resign as a minister because the Opposition demanded it.
Shivakumar also said Nagendra was innocent.
The Opposition wanted to discuss the issues through a different procedure called an Adjournment Motion.
The government said that procedure was not needed because a special session was already planned.
Shivakumar accused BJP lawmakers of stopping earlier Assembly discussions.
He said lawmakers from different areas had already met to discuss the drought and report.
The government said 120 taluks were officially affected by drought, while 100 more were being checked.
D.K. Shivakumar said the government forced B. Nagendra to resign as minister because of Opposition pressure, while calling him innocent.
Shivakumar accused BJP MLAs of disrupting the Assembly instead of debating issues they had raised.
Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka sought discussion through an Adjournment Motion on drought and the Kasturirangan Report.
The government said a special session had already been convened to discuss both issues, making the motion unnecessary.
Shivakumar said 120 taluks had been declared drought-affected and another 100 were being verified.
- Who
- Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, B. Nagendra, Opposition Leader R. Ashoka, BJP MLAs and other state legislators.
- What
- A dispute over B. Nagendra’s resignation and the Assembly’s procedures for discussing drought and the Kasturirangan Report.
- When
- Monday; the government said Karnataka’s position on the Kasturirangan Report had to reach the Centre by September 27.
- Where
- The Karnataka Legislative Assembly in Bengaluru, with preparatory meetings held in several state divisions.
- Why
- The government said it convened a special session to discuss drought and the possible effects of the Kasturirangan Report, while the Opposition sought an Adjournment Motion.
Government Position
Opposition Position
How to discuss the issues
Government Position
The government said its special session already provided an opportunity to discuss drought and the Kasturirangan Report, so an Adjournment Motion was unnecessary.
Opposition Position
R. Ashoka insisted that the matters should be discussed under the Adjournment Motion he submitted to the Speaker.
Assembly disruptions
Government Position
Shivakumar said BJP MLAs had disrupted the previous session and had not allowed him to speak, contributing to the session being shortened.
Opposition Position
The Opposition criticized the government over the issues it had raised and sought a formal Assembly discussion through its motion.
B. Nagendra’s resignation
Government Position
Shivakumar said Nagendra was innocent and that the government had forced him to resign because of Opposition pressure.
Opposition Position
The Opposition had demanded Nagendra’s resignation in connection with the Tribal Welfare scam, according to Shivakumar.
- Resigned minister
- Congress MLA B. Nagendra resigned as a cabinet minister in connection with the Tribal Welfare scam.
- Chief minister’s claim
- D.K. Shivakumar said the government forced an innocent person to resign because of Opposition pressure.
- Opposition demand
- R. Ashoka sought discussion under an Adjournment Motion.
- Government response
- The government said a special session had already been called to discuss the same issues.
- Drought status
- According to Shivakumar, 120 taluks had been declared drought-affected.
- Additional verification
- Another 100 taluks were being verified for possible inclusion as drought-affected.
- Report deadline
- Shivakumar said Karnataka’s position on the Kasturirangan Report had to be conveyed to the Centre by September 27.