DK Shivakumar Declines To Comment on Nagendra’s Ministerial Future

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday declined to comment on speculation over Minister B Nagendra's resignation, saying the matter had been left to the party leadership in New Delhi and that Nagendra would speak to the media himself.

Shivakumar's remarks came amid renewed speculation over Nagendra's continuation in the Cabinet following Opposition demands for his resignation over alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.

"Nagendra is coming from Delhi; he will speak to you himself. I will not say anything about it. Please wait for some time," Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru.

Asked whether Nagendra had submitted his resignation, Shivakumar said he had nothing to add and reiterated that the minister would address the issue himself.

When reporters pressed him on what Nagendra had told him, the CM declined to disclose the details, saying he was not prepared to discuss them.

"He (Nagendra) will come and speak to you himself," he insisted again.

Shivakumar, however, indicated that Nagendra had conveyed his willingness to abide by the party's decision.

"He told me that he is a soldier of the party and that he is ready to do anything for the party. I have left it to him," Shivakumar said.

Nagendra had resigned from the Siddaramaiah Cabinet in June 2024 amid allegations of unauthorised diversion of funds from the Valmiki Corporation. He was re-inducted into the Cabinet on August 3 this year and is currently the minister for Planning and Statistics.

The controversy resurfaced after the BJP and JD(S) stepped up demands for his removal following his re-induction. The Opposition parties disrupted proceedings of the Karnataka Legislature during its monsoon session, which was adjourned sine die on August 24, three days ahead of its scheduled conclusion.

The Valmiki Corporation case came to light in May 2024 after its accounts superintendent P Chandrasekharan was found dead in Bengaluru, with a note reportedly alleging unauthorised transfers of funds from the corporation.

The alleged irregularities triggered a controversy and demands for action against those responsible.

Defending Nagendra against allegations of involvement in the Rs 89-crore scam, Shivakumar said he had resigned earlier after discussions within the government and was later re-inducted into the Cabinet after an official report found no role for him in the case.

"It was not Nagendra who did it," Shivakumar had said, adding that 95 per cent of the money had been recovered during the investigation.