Karnataka minister B Nagendra resigns from cabinet, as MLA amid financial irregularity allegations

Karnataka Minister B Nagendra has resigned from his position in the state Cabinet and as an MLA, citing allegations of financial irregularities at the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation. At a press conference, he tearfully stated he had chosen to resign voluntarily in order to avoid embarrassment to his party.

He claimed that the opposition's allegations were part of the BJP's "manuvadi" politics. This resignation came amid growing political pressure on Nagendra and the Congress government over the alleged Valmiki Corporation scam, with the BJP and JD(S) demanding his removal since his re-inclusion in the Cabinet on August 3. The opposition had staged protests during the recent monsoon session and planned a march from Raichur to Ballari demanding his resignation.

The controversy surrounding Nagendra dates back to May 2024, when an accounts superintendent at the corporation died by suicide, leaving a note alleging irregularities and unauthorized transfers of funds. Subsequent investigations confirmed that ₹89.63 crore had been transferred from the corporation account to multiple other accounts, leading to a significant political controversy.

Nagendra, who was tribal welfare minister at the time, had previously resigned from the Cabinet in June 2024 but was re-included in August 2026 with the Planning and Statistics portfolio.