K'taka minister vows to quit amid corruption claim

• Minister B Nagendra offers resignation amid corruption allegations
• BJP demands removal over Rs 90 crore Maharshi Valmiki Corp theft
• CM Shivakumar asks him to stay until he speaks to party high command

Karnataka Minister B Nagendra has offered to resign amid alleged corruption charges and has spoken to Chief Minister DK Shivakumar regarding it, sources

said. It has been learnt that the Chief Minister has asked him to hold till he speaks to the Congress high command. The Opposition BJP has been demanding Nagendra's removal from the Cabinet over the alleged Rs 90 crore irregularities in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. "I don't want to embarrass the party. Even though the Special Investigative Team has given him a clean chit," Nagendra said. He alleged that the BJP cannot fathom the fact that so many Dalits have become ministers in the Congress government. Reacting in the incident, Chief Minister Shivakumar said, "All our MLAs,ministers or workers are disciplined soldiers of our party, that’s all I can say." The development came after Karnataka BJP criticised the Congress government in the state, alleging that the Assembly session failed to adequately address key issues, including corruption allegations against Minister B Nagendra.

BJP Demands Resignation

Speaking to reporters, state BJP president Vijayendra said the BJP had demanded Nagendra's resignation before the Assembly session and maintained that the party would not back down.

BJP had demanded Nagendra's resignation before the Assembly session and maintained that the party would not back down. "We had demanded that Minister Nagendra, who is facing corruption allegations, should resign before the Assembly session began. We had made it clear that we would not back down under any circumstances," Vijayendra said.

Congress Faces Political Backlash In Karnataka

The re-induction of B Nagendra into the Karnataka Cabinet has triggered intense legislative chaos and opposition backlash.

The minister faces severe money-laundering allegations involving the theft of nearly Rs 90 crore from the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, a case currently detailed in charge sheets filed by central agencies like the CBI.