B Nagendra is, perhaps, the first minister across the country to resign over the same alleged scam twice
Under chief minister Siddaramaiah , the Ballari Rural MLA enjoyed a 13-month innings holding the ST welfare and youth and sports development portfolios. His second stint, under Shivakumar, barely spanned three weeks before he was forced to quit.
Congress re-inducted him into the cabinet after the state-appointed special investigation team (SIT) discharged him in the case in late 2024. However, Congress could still turn to Nagendra to shore up support in ST-reserved constituencies ahead of the 2028 elections, using his political base in the community rather than sidelining him altogether.
“When names were being finalised, we knew Nagendra would be under scrutiny,” a senior member said. We unnecessarily have handed BJP and JD(S) credit,’’ said another functionary. He was expected to return to the Siddaramaiah cabinet itself, but internal wrangling in the party delayed his comeback. This time, Congress appears to have buckled in the face of mounting pressure from CBI and ED investigations. Congress sources say Nagendra’s return was always a gamble. He was handed the relatively low-profile planning and statistics portfolio this time, a clear sign of caution within the party. “But nobody in the high command or the party anticipated that it would become such a big issue. He may be offered an important position in the party, besides making him head of a board or corporation.
“He should have been asked to resign before the monsoon session.