Congress Crisis in Karnataka: Dissidence Erupts Within Days of Shivakumar Government Formation

Within three days of the formation of the DK Shivakumar government in Karnataka, dissidence within the Congress is out in the open. One minister has resigned, several senior leaders have demanded better portfolios, some leaders are angry at being ignored, while the government is also facing criticism from within the opposition and the party over women's and Muslim representation. Ramalinga Reddy is a big face of the Congress in Bengaluru politics. The 73-year-old Reddy is an eight-time MLA from the BTM Layout seat and has previously held key positions such as transport, muzrai and home minister. After Reddy's resignation, his supporters started removing joint posters of DK Shivakumar and Reddy in the area as a mark of protest. According to NDTV, senior leader KH Muniyappa, who holds the food and civil supplies portfolio in the cabinet, also expressed his dissatisfaction. He said that he is one of the senior-most leaders in the cabinet and that he should get an "important ministry." Muniyappa said that he had already told the party leadership about his expectations from the Kolar seat.