Congress Moves to Resolve Ramalinga Reddy’s Concerns After Late-Night Meeting with CM Shivakumar

Bengaluru, June 2026: Karnataka’s political circles remained focused on the resignation row involving senior minister and eight-time Bengaluru MLA Ramalinga Reddy, even as late-night discussions between Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and the veteran leader appeared to ease tensions within the ruling Congress.

Reddy, who serves as the Minister for Water Resources, indicated on Saturday that he had received assurances regarding the resolution of his concerns after an extensive meeting with Chief Minister Shivakumar at a private hotel in Bengaluru. The discussions, which reportedly lasted nearly two hours, came a day after Reddy announced his decision to resign from the state Cabinet over dissatisfaction with the allocation of ministerial portfolios.

The controversy erupted after Reddy alleged that Shivakumar had not fulfilled an earlier assurance regarding the Bengaluru Urban Development portfolio. The senior Congress leader had publicly expressed disappointment over being assigned the Water Resources department instead of a Bengaluru-centric portfolio, arguing that his political career and public service have been closely associated with the state capital.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Reddy struck a more conciliatory tone, suggesting that discussions were progressing positively.

“The Chief Minister and I have discussed the matter. Let us wait and see how things develop. He met me around 11 p.m., we had dinner together, and our discussions continued until about 1 a.m.,” Reddy said.

When questioned about whether he would withdraw his resignation, Reddy refrained from making any definitive announcement, stating that he would wait for the outcome of ongoing consultations.

He also clarified that apart from Chief Minister Shivakumar, no other senior leader had approached him regarding the issue so far.

Meanwhile, Congress sources indicated that AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala is expected to meet Reddy in an effort to further calm the situation and ensure party unity.

After concluding the late-night meeting, Chief Minister Shivakumar sought to downplay the controversy, describing it as an internal family matter that would be resolved through dialogue.

Addressing the media in the early hours of Saturday, Shivakumar said there was no reason for alarm and emphasized the long-standing relationship he shares with Reddy.

“This is a family issue and we will resolve it within the party. I am the Chief Minister and he is a minister, but beyond that we are friends. Ramalinga Reddy is a senior leader who has played an important role in strengthening the Congress in Bengaluru,” Shivakumar said.

The Chief Minister avoided discussing specific details of the portfolio issue, saying internal deliberations could not be publicly disclosed.

“What we have discussed regarding portfolios and other matters cannot all be shared before the media,” he remarked.

Using a metaphor to describe political developments, Shivakumar said fluctuations and disagreements within a party were natural.

“Rain, thunder, lightning, sunrise and sunset are all part of nature. Similarly, such developments happen in politics,” he said.

He also rejected speculation that Reddy was considering leaving the Congress, stressing that the minister had merely expressed his concerns.

“There has been some miscommunication. We will address it and set things right,” Shivakumar said.

The outcome of the ongoing discussions is expected to determine whether Reddy continues in the Cabinet and whether the Congress leadership can successfully prevent the issue from escalating into a larger political challenge for the state government.