DK Shivakumar says Ramalinga Reddy resignation crisis resolved after meeting

The crisis triggered by Ramalinga Reddy’s resignation over portfolio allocation has been resolved, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Saturday (June 6) after hours of talks with the senior Congress leader.

Shivakumar met Reddy for nearly two-and-a-half hours at a private hotel in Jayanagar late on Friday night amid efforts by the Congress leadership to persuade the veteran leader to withdraw his resignation. The meeting went on till the wee hours of Saturday.

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Senior Congress leaders and some of Reddy’s close associates were also involved in the discussions.

DKS downplays internal rift

“This is a family matter. We will all sit together and talk. Everything has been resolved,” Shivakumar told reporters after emerging from the meeting around 1.30 am. “He has expressed his grievance; it was a case of miscommunication. Something has happened, and we will sort it out. Don't worry, we will run everything first-class. We have given opportunities to all senior leaders, and we will set everything right,” Shivakumar said and expressed confidence that the government would move forward unitedly.

Shivakumar confirmed that Reddy had sent him his resignation via WhatsApp, but insisted the issue had been resolved. “Don't create unnecessary stories; they will all fall flat. Yes, he sent his resignation on WhatsApp, but everything has now been settled,” the chief minister said.

Emphasising his long-standing association with the senior minister, he said, “Ramalinga Reddy and I have been friends since 1980. I am the Chief Minister today; earlier, I served as a minister, and he continues to be a minister. We have always been friends.”

Leadership moves to pacify

Reddy had announced his resignation on Friday, alleging that assurances made to him regarding the Bengaluru Development portfolio had not been honoured after the allocation of portfolios in the newly formed Shivakumar government.

Asked whether he would withdraw his resignation if the chief minister requested him to do so, Reddy refrained from elaborating and echoed Shivakumar’s remarks. “I am saying the same thing that he (CM) told you. Everything has been resolved. That’s all,” Reddy said.

The late-night meeting came amid intense efforts by the Congress leadership to contain discontent within the Cabinet after Reddy’s resignation triggered the first major political challenge for the three-day-old Shivakumar-led Congress government.

However, Reddy’s grievance is not the only challenge facing Shivakumar, with several senior ministers openly expressing dissatisfaction over portfolio allocations and other decisions.

More ministers voice discontent

Senior leader KH Muniyappa publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the food and civil supplies portfolio, which he had also handled under Siddaramaiah. Seeking either the social welfare or agriculture department, he warned he could resign if ignored and urged the chief minister to treat all ministers fairly.

Senior minister Satish Jarkiholi questioned Shivakumar's announcement of a Rs 1,000-crore assistance programme for Bharat Jodo Youth Clubs, saying it could strain the state exchequer. He also said he was “neither happy nor unhappy” with the public works portfolio and would abide by the high command's decision.

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Another senior minister, KJ George, objected to the transfer of IAS officer Gaurav Gupta from Karnataka Power Corporation Limited without his knowledge, saying such decisions undermined his authority.

Sources said Byrathi Suresh is also unhappy with the transport portfolio, having sought urban development responsibilities, which went to Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of the former chief minister.

As discontent spread, Rahul Gandhi convened a closed-door meeting near Bengaluru airport with Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, G Parameshwara, Muniyappa, George, Kharge and KPCC chief BK Hariprasad. He is learnt to have expressed concern over the public airing of grievances and asked Shivakumar to resolve the issues quickly, making it clear that prolonged public discord would not be tolerated.