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DK Shivakumar seeks to calm storm after Karnataka minister resigns: ‘Will make everything right’
Reddy resigned earlier on Friday, expressing displeasure over the allocation of portfolios in the Karnataka cabinet.
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Hours after Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy announced his decision to resign as Karnataka minister, CM DK Shivakumar sought to defuse the situation, saying he would “sort out the issue” and “make everything right.”
Reddy resigned earlier on Friday, expressing displeasure over the allocation of portfolios in the Karnataka cabinet. He said he wanted the Bengaluru Development portfolio, but was instead appointed minister for Major and Medium Irrigation projects.
However, Shivakumar said Reddy was a “great friend”, while assuring that there was “nothing to worry.” “Nothing to worry. He is a great friend. We are the closest friends among the Cabinet. We will sort out the problem,” Shivakumar said, according to ANI news agency. Elaborating on his conversation with Reddy, he said the Congress MLA had asked for “some other ministerial post.”
“Ramalinga Reddy is my colleague and our senior leader. He said that he cannot go to the village and work…I will talk to Ramalinga Reddy and make everything right,” the Karnataka CM added.
‘How long can I tolerate this humilitation’: Ramalinga Reddy
Reddy, while announcing that he would tender his resignation, alleged “humilitation”, and said he cannot work “against conscience.” “I am resigning from my post because I cannot work against conscience,” Reddy said at a press conference in Bengaluru earlier today. Shivakumar had allocated the ministry portfolios on Thursday.
“How long can I tolerate this humiliation and what else were options before me?” the senior Congress leader added, while also clarifying that he would continue to be a member of the party and an MLA from Karnataka.
“I am still in the Congress party; I have not resigned from the party. I have been in the Congress party for the past 53 years,” Reddy said, adding that he had already “handled several responsibilities within the party.” The Congress leader also said that he had never lobbied for a ministerial berth, while highlighting his previous stints as minister in the Karnataka cabinet. “I have served as a minister in the cabinets of former Chief Ministers M Veerappa Moily and SM Krishna, among others,” he said.
Meanwhile, Karnataka home minister Priyank Kharge said the issue around Reddy's ministerial role would be resolved through discussions among senior party leaders. “That is something the seniors will discuss and resolve. It is just a matter of time,” Priyank told ANI news agency. While Shivakumar allocated portfolios among 13 ministers in his cabinet, he retained key departments including finance, cabinet affairs, department of personnel and administrative reforms, intelligence, and all unallocated portfolios.
