Karnataka minister B Nagendra has resigned from the state Cabinet amid renewed political pressure over alleged financial irregularities involving the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.
Nagendra, who was serving as the Planning and Statistics Minister, announced his resignation on Friday, saying he did not want his political controversy to cause embarrassment to the Congress party or the state government. He reportedly became emotional while announcing the decision.
“I am resigning of my own will to avoid embarrassment to my party,” Nagendra said, while maintaining that he had done nothing wrong and describing the allegations against him as politically motivated.
The controversy dates back to 2024, when allegations emerged that funds belonging to the Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation had been diverted without proper authorisation. The issue came to light after the corporation’s accounts superintendent P Chandrasekharan died by suicide and reportedly left behind a note alleging financial irregularities.
Investigators have been examining alleged unauthorised transfers involving a large amount of money. Reports have put the disputed amount at around ₹89 crore in the initial case, while subsequent investigations have traced transactions involving substantially more funds.
Nagendra had previously resigned as a minister in June 2024 amid the controversy. He was later re-inducted into the Cabinet in August 2026 after D K Shivakumar became Karnataka Chief Minister. His return triggered fresh criticism from the BJP and JD(S), which repeatedly demanded his resignation and accused the Congress government of failing to ensure accountability.
The Opposition had intensified its campaign against Nagendra during the recent Assembly session. BJP leaders and legislators staged protests inside and outside the legislature, while plans were also announced for a larger foot march demanding action against him.
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, however, defended Nagendra and said the minister was not connected to the alleged financial irregularities. He indicated that Nagendra had chosen to step down in the interest of the party and to prevent the controversy from damaging the Congress government.
Nagendra’s resignation marks the second time he has left a ministerial position over the same controversy. The latest development is expected to intensify the political battle between the Congress government and the BJP over alleged misuse of funds meant for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes.
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