Opposition Slams Karnataka Government Over B Nagendra’s Return to Cabinet Amid Valmiki Corporation Scam Row

The expansion of the Karnataka cabinet has triggered a fresh political storm after Ballari Rural MLA B Nagendra was sworn in as a minister despite earlier resigning over allegations linked to the multi crore Maharshi Valmiki Development Corporation scam. His re induction into the cabinet has drawn severe criticism from opposition parties, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress government of rewarding a leader who had stepped down during a major financial controversy.

The controversy has gained momentum because Nagendra had resigned from the cabinet when the alleged irregularities in the Valmiki Development Corporation came under intense public and political scrutiny. At the time, opposition leaders had demanded accountability and insisted that the government take strict action against everyone connected to the case. His return to ministerial office has now reopened the debate over political responsibility and ethics in public administration.

Former minister and MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy launched one of the strongest attacks on the Congress government following the cabinet expansion. According to him, Nagendra was not the only person connected with the alleged scam and several others were equally involved. Reddy claimed that he had repeatedly stated this in the past and now believes recent developments support his earlier stand.

Reddy went further by alleging that Nagendra had been made a minister once again because the Congress leadership feared he could reveal sensitive information related to the alleged financial transactions if he remained outside the government. He claimed that the larger share of the alleged funds had been used for political purposes while only a small portion had been linked to Nagendra. According to him, the decision to bring Nagendra back into the cabinet was intended to prevent any uncomfortable disclosures.

The MLA also claimed that Nagendra could have become an approver and provided details about the alleged movement of money if he had not been accommodated in the ministry. Reddy argued that this possibility forced the ruling party to restore him to a ministerial position. These allegations have added another layer of political tension to an already heated debate surrounding the cabinet reshuffle.

While making his remarks, Reddy also expressed sympathy for Nagendra, saying that he believed the former minister had become the face of the controversy while several others allegedly escaped scrutiny. He claimed that Nagendra had suffered legal consequences despite not being the only person allegedly associated with the case. However, he maintained that the Congress leadership acted only to safeguard itself from further political damage.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has also intensified its criticism of the state government over the decision. Leader of Opposition R Ashoka questioned the Congress leadership for restoring Nagendra to the cabinet after he had resigned under pressure during the investigation into the Valmiki Corporation case. According to Ashoka, the opposition had fought consistently for Nagendra’s resignation, but the government has now effectively declared him free of wrongdoing without waiting for the legal process to conclude.

Ashoka compared the move to placing Nagendra inside a political washing machine, suggesting that the government had attempted to clean his public image through a cabinet berth rather than allowing institutions to determine accountability. His remarks reflected the BJP’s larger campaign against the Congress government over issues of corruption and governance.

The issue also sparked protests in Belagavi, where BJP workers staged demonstrations demanding Nagendra’s removal from the cabinet. The protest was led by Legislative Council member Lingaraj Patil, who accused the Congress government of ignoring serious allegations while rewarding an individual who had resigned during one of Karnataka’s most controversial financial scandals in recent years.

During the protest, BJP workers raised slogans against the ruling party and alleged that public money connected to the Valmiki Development Corporation had been misused. They argued that bringing Nagendra back into the ministry sent the wrong message to the people of Karnataka and weakened public confidence in the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

The Congress government, however, has not accepted the opposition’s allegations. The cabinet expansion was presented as part of a broader exercise to strengthen governance and improve regional and social representation within the ministry. The ruling party has not publicly linked Nagendra’s appointment to the allegations made by opposition leaders and continues to defend its political decisions.

Political observers believe the controversy is likely to remain in focus during the upcoming Assembly sessions, where opposition parties are expected to question the government over the circumstances surrounding Nagendra’s return. The BJP has indicated that it will continue raising the Valmiki Corporation issue both inside and outside the legislature.

The debate has once again shifted attention to the Valmiki Development Corporation case, which had become one of Karnataka’s biggest political controversies. Although investigations and legal proceedings continue, the political battle surrounding the issue has shown no signs of slowing down. With Nagendra now back in the cabinet, opposition leaders are preparing to use the issue as a major campaign point against the Congress government in the coming months.

For the Congress, the challenge will be balancing governance with public perception while responding to persistent allegations from its political rivals. For the opposition, Nagendra’s appointment provides an opportunity to question the ruling party’s commitment to clean administration. As both sides continue exchanging accusations, the controversy is expected to remain one of the defining political stories in Karnataka.