Karnataka Minister B Nagendra Quits, Seeks Fresh Mandate From Ballari Rural
Karnataka minister B Nagendra resigns over alleged Valmiki Corporation fund scam, challenges BJP in Ballari Rural and seeks re-election to clear his name.
B. Nagendra, who stepped down as a minister in the Congress government led by D.K. Shivakumar, has thrown down the gauntlet to the Opposition BJP. On Friday, he challenged the party to face him in a Janata Nyayalaya (people's court) in the Ballari Rural Reserved (ST) constituency.
Nagendra, who has also decided to resign as a member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, reiterated that he had no role in the alleged scam at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Ltd.
In an emotional appeal, he urged Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, MP Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to allow him to contest the Ballari Rural seat again. He said this would enable him to "come clean" politically.
His resignation comes as the BJP and JD(S) have planned a 10-day padayatra from Raichur to Ballari starting September 1, demanding his resignation over the alleged multi-crore scam.
Addressing the media at the State Secretariat, Nagendra accused the BJP of being "anti-Dalit, anti-Adivasi and anti-minority." He alleged that the party had derailed the entire monsoon session of the Legislature by focusing on the alleged diversion of ST welfare funds, preventing discussion on pressing issues like the drought, the alleged KPSC recruitment scam, and the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
Nagendra questioned the BJP's silence over the alleged diversion of funds through Union Bank of India, which falls under Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's jurisdiction. "Just because I became the Minister, I was punished," he said.
He claimed that the Criminal Investigation Department and the Special Investigation Team had found no role for him in the scam. However, he alleged that the CBI and Enforcement Directorate had hurriedly named him in their chargesheet and sought the governor's sanction for prosecution.
Nagendra also questioned why Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot had not sanctioned the prosecution of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, a matter he said had been pending for three years. He referred to two cases—the Jantakal Mining case and the denotification of BDA land—and asked if the BJP would seek Kumaraswamy's resignation on similar grounds.
Drawing a parallel to the Uttara Kanda of the Ramayana, where Shambuka, a "lower" caste person, is killed for breaking caste barriers, Nagendra said he was "no Shambuka." He alleged that BJP leaders who espouse the Manusmriti had failed to recognise the political influence of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Nagendra said the Constitution guaranteed freedom and safeguards to Dalits in a democratic system. He announced plans to tour 15 ST-reserved constituencies to work for the victory of ST candidates in upcoming elections.
Before announcing his resignation, Nagendra held discussions with Ministers Ajay Singh and Rizwan Arshad, and MPs Nasir Hussain and G.C. Chandrashekar, who accompanied him at the press conference.
This was Nagendra's second resignation over the issue. He had earlier stepped down in June 2024. In his second stint, he served as a minister for just 25 days, having been sworn in on August 3.