Calling Ramalinga Reddy's resignation fiasco a 'misunderstanding', the Karnataka Congress said that he would 'continue to work as a loyal soldier and minister of the party'.

Calling Ramalinga Reddy's resignation fiasco a 'misunderstanding', the Karnataka Congress said that he would 'continue to work as a loyal soldier and minister of the party'.

Calling Ramalinga Reddy's resignation fiasco a 'misunderstanding', the Karnataka Congress said that he would 'continue to work as a loyal soldier and minister of the party'.

The Karnataka Congress on Saturday indicated that the crisis over veteran minister Ramalinga Reddy's exit from the D.K. Shivakumar-led cabinet over portfolio allocation was resolved.

Calling the whole resignation fiasco a "misunderstanding", the party's general secretary in-charge, Randeep Singh Surjewala, told reporters in a media briefing that Reddy would "continue to work as a loyal soldier and minister of the party”.

However, doubts remain whether Reddy will stay on in the Cabinet, despite Surjewala's statement.

This is because Reddy has not yet confirmed that he will be staying on, after the party refused to give him the Bengaluru Development Minister portfolio in the new 13-member cabinet led by CM D.K. Shivakumar, after Siddaramaiah stepped down on May 28.

The party has also not indicated any changes in portfolios since it claimed that Reddy would be staying on.

This comes a day after he handed over his resignation on WhatsApp—a shock move that came just two days after D.K. Shivakumar was sworn into power.

"Ramalinga Reddy is an asset of the Congress party ... His experience and wisdom is extremely valuable to the party," Surjewala added at the press conference.

What is the dispute about?

Krishna Byre Gowda, an MLA from the Byatarayanapura seat in North Bengaluru, had been chosen for the development portfolio over Reddy, who represents the BTM Layout Assembly constituency in South Bengaluru.

The Karnataka Congress' top brass instead gave Reddy the Irrigation portfolio, which he was vocally unhappy about, as he claimed he wanted to work in the urban sector.

“I am upset. I cannot work against my conscience and have tendered my resignation. I will remain in Congress and work as a MLA," Reddy had said on Friday.

CM Shivakumar, who has known Reddy for years, also said that the issue with the BTM Layout MLA had been resolved after the latter was told that the Congress was considering giving him an additional portfolio with an urban emphasis.

However, it is yet to be seen whether the party leadership's firm stance on portfolio allocation, which has reportedly led to internal friction, can keep Reddy in the cabinet, or if it will lead to further tensions down the road.

TAGS