Karnataka’s Planning and Statistics Minister B Nagendra resigned on Friday, just 25 days after returning to the state cabinet. Facing intense opposition pressure over the Valmiki Corporation scam, an emotional Nagendra said he quit voluntarily to avoid embarrassing the Congress party. He insisted he had no direct role in the alleged diversion of funds from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation and questioned why Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had not resigned over Union Bank of India’s alleged role in moving the money.
The resignation follows escalated protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) over his reinduction, particularly after central agencies filed a fresh chargesheet naming him. Nagendra submitted his resignation directly to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and stated he was even willing to resign his assembly seat to put his case before the public. This marks the second time in roughly two years that Nagendra has stepped down from a ministerial post over the same corruption allegations.