Is Ramalinga Reddy’s resignation just a department dispute or a big political game? Did the internal conflict in Congress increase by breaking the promise of Bengaluru Development Department? Are ‘U-turn’ allegations on DK Shivakumar raising questions on the stability of the government? Is this incident a sign of deep rift and power struggle in Karnataka Congress?
Bengaluru: 72 year old senior leader R. who brought revolution in Karnataka politics. Ramalinga Reddy has currently become the biggest focal point of the country’s politics. Reddy, who took oath as minister two days ago with a smile, has put the entire Congress high command in trouble by suddenly resigning. But is this just a simple portfolio (department) dispute, or a bigger internal war to monopolize power in Bengaluru? The question floating around in the diplomatic circles is, who forced this leader, considered to be the strongest pillar of the Congress in Bengaluru, to take such a suicidal step?
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Journey from NSUI to Cabinet: The one who never learned defeat
To understand the suspense of this political drama, we will have to turn the pages of history. Born in 1953, Ramalinga Reddy entered active politics through the student organization NSUI. He is not just any leader, but has been the backbone of Congress for the last 5 decades. After winning the assembly elections for the first time in 1989, he never looked back.
Reddy, who currently represents the BTM Layout constituency, is one of the longest serving MLAs of Karnataka. He has handled big departments like food, civil supplies, education, transport and the highly sensitive ‘Home Ministry’ from Veerappa Moily to Siddaramaiah government. His daughter Sowmya Reddy is also currently the chief of Karnataka Mahila Congress, which shows the deep political penetration of this family. In such a situation, the sudden rebellion of such a prominent face is no less than a big explosion.
Secret promise of ‘Bengaluru development’…and handed over the bowl of ‘irrigation’!
The layers of real suspense hidden behind the scenes were revealed when the list of division of departments came out. According to insiders, during the power agreement of 2023, a ‘secret’ promise was made to Reddy in the presence of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. The promise was that after two and a half years, D.K. Shivakumar will take over as the Chief Minister, while the command of Bengaluru city and ‘Bengaluru Development Department’ will be handed over to Ramalinga Reddy.
But when the final list came on Friday, the ground slipped from under Reddy’s feet. Keeping him away from the development of the city, he was given the ‘Major and Medium Irrigation Department’. Though the irrigation department itself is huge, Reddy is considering it as a major blow to his political stature and his identity as the ‘face of Bengaluru’. “I have been humiliated again and again. I have been forced to believe the assurances of the high command,” Reddy said emotionally.
Shivkumar’s fear of ‘damage control’ vs BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’
This resignation has given sleepless nights to the entire government. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar immediately came on the front foot and started damage control, calling Reddy his ‘very good friend’. He has expressed confidence that he will resolve this dissatisfaction by sitting in a closed room.
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On the other hand, the opposition (BJP) did not waste any time in seizing this opportunity. BJP quipped that this is the result of internal strife within the Congress and how will a government run the state if it cannot handle its senior-most leader? Reddy’s resignation comes amid upcoming major reforms in ‘Greater Bengaluru Authority’. ‘Bawal-e-Jaan’ has become a matter of concern for Shivkumar’s newly formed government. Will Shivkumar be able to convince his old friend and bring him back into the cabinet, or is this rift in Karnataka Congress the beginning of a new political drama? The answer is going to be visible on the streets of Bengaluru in the coming few hours.