As soon as the new government is formed in Karnataka, voices of rebellion have started rising. Senior minister Ramalinga Reddy has resigned from his post. He alleges that the Chief Minister did not give him the ministry he had promised. Reddy said that he is very angry about this and is not ready for any kind of talks.
Bengaluru: The first major setback has come the very next day after the division of ministries in the new government of DK Shivakumar in Karnataka. Senior leader Ramalinga Reddy has resigned from the post of minister. He said in a press conference, “I cannot work against my conscience. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had promised me the Bengaluru Urban Development Ministry. I am very angry not for the ministry, but because of the breach of promise. How long can I tolerate this? That’s why I am resigning from the post of minister.”
Reddy made it clear that he was not resigning for the greed of any ministry. He said, “I am coming in front of the media today to tell why I am resigning. I have not spoken to anyone about this, not even my family knows. There is no need for any discussion on this matter now.”
I will continue working as an MLA
Ramalinga Reddy clarified that he has only left the ministerial post and not the party. He said, “I have resigned from the post of minister, but I will remain in the Congress party and will continue to work as an MLA.”
He further said, “I had met DK Shivakumar just before the oath-taking. Even then he had said that the Bengaluru Urban Development Ministry will be given to you only. But now I have been given the Water Resources Ministry. I cannot work against my conscience like this. That’s why I am resigning.” Reddy also said that he would not resign on his own. “My office staff will submit my resignation to Chief Minister’s Secretary Tushar Girinath,” he said.
Referring to his political experience, Reddy said, “I have worked in almost all the departments in the Karnataka government. S.M. Krishna had given me the Bengaluru Urban Development Ministry for a year in his government. I have the satisfaction of doing good work in all the departments. But for the last two times, the promise made to me has been broken. It hurts every time this happens. I had not asked for this ministry, he himself has changed it. This is what hurts me.”