Opposition Stalls Karnataka Assembly Over Minister B. Nagendra Scam

Opposition parties BJP and JD(S) disrupted the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for four consecutive days starting August 18, demanding the immediate removal of Planning and Statistics Minister B. Nagendra. The protests center on allegations that Nagendra masterminded a multi-crore embezzlement scam involving the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, where funds intended for tribal upliftment were diverted to fake accounts.

Nagendra, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in July 2024 and previously resigned from a prior cabinet, was re-inducted into the ministry by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on August 3. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka and BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra vowed to stall the Monsoon Session until Nagendra is sacked, while BJP units launched additional protests in Mysuru and Belgavi.

B. Nagendra rejected the resignation demands on August 19, claiming he is being targeted because he is a Dalit and a member of the Congress party. He asserted that he is not a convict and challenged the opposition to look at criminal cases against other political figures. Government officials, including Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara and political secretary A.S. Ponnanna, defended the minister, with Ponnanna dismissing the Enforcement Directorate as a mouthpiece for the central government.

By August 20, the stalemate continued as opposition members wore black badges and sloganeered in the house. While G. Parameshwara appealed for the protests to end so the house could discuss urgent issues like drought, R. Ashoka maintained that the government misled the house regarding Nagendra's legal status, alleging the minister faces 24 cases.