BJP opposes Nagendra’s re-induction into Cabinet

BJP leaders have demanded Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar rescind the appointment of B. Nagendra to the State Cabinet following allegations of a ₹187 crore scam in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. During a joint press conference on Wednesday, BJP MLA Basavaraj Mattimadu and former MLA Rajkumar Patil Telkur questioned the timing of Nagendra's re-induction amid ongoing investigations.

Mattimadu alleged that Nagendra is facing 31 cases, including 3 with the CBI, 5 with the Lokayukta, and one each with the SIT and CID. He claimed that Nagendra had previously resigned from Siddaramaiah's Cabinet due to the Valmiki Corporation scam. The BJP accused Shivakumar of succumbing to pressure from the Congress to bring Nagendra back into the Cabinet.

They alleged that funds from the corporation were diverted to bank accounts opened in Telangana, primarily for use during the Telangana elections, and cited the Enforcement Directorate's investigation. They also mentioned that corporation official P. Chandrashekhar had reportedly ended his life while leaving a note about the alleged financial wrongdoing.

The BJP leaders vowed to continue raising the issue and threatened protests outside Deputy Commissioners' offices across the State until Nagendra resigned from the Cabinet.