Karnataka’s political leadership moved swiftly to defuse tensions within the state Congress after Water Resources Minister and eight-time MLA Ramalinga Reddy submitted his resignation, triggering a late-night round of talks with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The discussions, held at a private hotel in Bengaluru, lasted nearly two hours and focused on resolving differences over portfolio allocation within the Cabinet.

The controversy began on Friday when Ramalinga Reddy announced his resignation, alleging that assurances given to him regarding the Bengaluru Urban portfolio had not been fulfilled. The development sparked internal discussions within the ruling party, prompting immediate intervention by senior leadership to prevent escalation of the issue.

Chief Minister Shivakumar met Reddy late on Friday night, with the two leaders reportedly sharing dinner during the meeting that extended till around 1 a.m. Following the talks, Reddy indicated that the matter was being addressed and expressed cautious optimism, saying he had been assured that the issue would be resolved. However, he did not confirm whether he would formally withdraw his resignation.

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Speaking to the media on Saturday, Reddy said that discussions had taken place directly with the Chief Minister but declined to provide details on any specific assurances regarding his portfolio. He noted that no other party leaders had engaged with him so far, adding that further clarity would emerge after additional consultations within the party.

Chief Minister Shivakumar, while addressing reporters after the late-night meeting, downplayed concerns over the internal differences, describing them as part of normal political functioning. He said that disagreements within the party would be resolved through discussion and mutual understanding, stressing that leaders in the Congress are “like a family” and such issues are not unusual in political life.

Shivakumar also avoided directly confirming any changes related to ministerial portfolios but reiterated that there was no crisis within the party. He described the situation as a “miscommunication” and expressed confidence that it would be resolved internally, with senior party leadership expected to play a role in easing tensions in the coming days.

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