Karnataka Minister Nagendra denies reports of resignation

Karnataka Minister B Nagendra on Wednesday dismissed as untrue media reports stating that he has offered to resign. Speculation was rife that the Planning and Statistics minister called on Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. Rumours had it that Nagendra told Shivakumar he did not wish to embarrass the party leadership any more, and, hence he wanted to voluntarily resign by Wednesday evening. Rejecting the reports, Nagendra said they were "completely untrue". His office said in a statement that he had not received any call from the Chief Minister's Office and that there had been no discussion regarding his resignation. "I request your cooperation," Nagendra said, according to the statement. Chief Minister D K Shivkumar, in his reaction about Nagaendra said, "All those who are in the party, either as a worker or an MLA or a minister, all of them are very disciplined soldier of the party, this is what I can tell."

VIDEO | Bengaluru, Karnataka: When asked about minister B Nagendra, CM Dk Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) says, "All those who are in the party, either as a worker or an MLA or a minister, all of them are very disciplined soldier of the party, this is what I can tell."#Karnataka pic.twitter.com/fJVmAvGYaF

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 26, 2026

The Opposition BJP and its ally JD(S) have been demanding Nagendra's removal from the Cabinet over alleged irregularities amounting to Rs 89 crore in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Karnataka LoP R Ashoka says, " We are asking Nagendra, who has looted Rs 180 crore of Dalit amount, to resign. For the last one week, we have been demanding his resignation because, in the CBI chargesheet, he is named as the kingpin. The ED chargesheet is also there; he is the kingpin... Without his resignation, we are not ready to discuss anything."

VIDEO | Bengaluru: Karnataka LoP R Ashoka says, "... We are asking Nagendra, who has looted Rs 180 crore of Dalit amount, to resign. For the last one week, we have been demanding his resignation because, in the CBI chargesheet, he is named as the kingpin. The ED chargesheet is… pic.twitter.com/74wRnJFnui

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 25, 2026

The Valmiki Corporation case came to light after its accounts officer, Chandrasekharan P, died by suicide in May 2024, leaving behind a note alleging the unauthorised transfer of funds. Subsequent investigations alleged that large sums had been transferred from the corporation's bank accounts to various accounts, triggering a political controversy and demands for Nagendra's resignation. Nagendra, who was then serving as Tribal Welfare Minister, resigned in June 2024 amid the controversy. He was later re-inducted into the Cabinet on August 3, 2026.

(State Correspondent)