BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has rejected BJP and JD(S) demands to remove Minister B. Nagendra from the Cabinet, defending his decision to bring the Ballari Rural MLA back into the ministry. The Opposition has disrupted proceedings in the Karnataka legislature while demanding Nagendra’s resignation over allegations linked to the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation case.

Shivakumar accused the BJP and JD(S) of using the issue to create political drama and challenged the Opposition to formally seek a debate in the House. He said the government was prepared to explain why Nagendra was reinducted and maintained that its own review had not established his direct involvement in the alleged diversion of funds.

Nagendra was among the ministers inducted into Shivakumar’s expanded Cabinet on August 3, 2026. His return immediately drew criticism because investigations connected to the Valmiki Corporation case are still pending.

The BJP-JD(S) Opposition continued protests in both Houses, demanding Nagendra’s removal and disrupting proceedings for a second consecutive day. Opposition leaders argue that a minister facing serious allegations should not remain in office while investigative proceedings continue.

The government, however, has urged the Opposition to submit a notice and debate the issue rather than repeatedly interrupt proceedings. Shivakumar said the administration would respond to every allegation on the floor of the House.

Nagendra had resigned from the previous Siddaramaiah Cabinet after allegations emerged over financial irregularities at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in July 2024 and later granted bail by a Bengaluru court in October that year.

Government figures cited during the ongoing political debate indicate that about Rs 79.68 crore of an alleged Rs 84.63 crore diversion has been recovered or is under recovery. The government has argued that no finding has established that Nagendra personally diverted the money, while the Opposition says the pending investigation makes his Cabinet return inappropriate.

Nagendra has also denied wrongdoing, saying he is an accused and not a convicted person and that most of the allegedly diverted funds have been recovered.

Shivakumar also hit out at Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy over JD(S) protests against land acquisition for the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township near Bidadi. He questioned why Kumaraswamy had not joined discussions when invited and asked the JD(S) to raise its objections through a debate in the Assembly.

The Chief Minister rejected allegations that the project amounted to real-estate activity, arguing that planned townships around Bengaluru are intended to create infrastructure, housing and employment opportunities. The simultaneous disputes over Nagendra and the Bidadi project have intensified the political confrontation between the Congress government and the BJP-JD(S) alliance during the ongoing legislature session.