Bengaluru: The resignation of B Nagendra as Karnataka minister over the alleged Valmiki Development Corporation scam has given the BJP fresh political ammunition, with the opposition party claiming that its sustained protests, Assembly agitation and proposed padayatra forced the Congress government to act.
Nagendra’s resignation, coming soon after his induction into the state Cabinet, has been projected by BJP leaders as a major political setback for the Congress government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The BJP said it had consistently raised the alleged irregularities in the Valmiki Corporation and demanded accountability from the government.
State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra and other senior leaders had stepped up their campaign against the government, both inside and outside the legislature. The party had demanded Nagendra’s removal and threatened to intensify its agitation if the government continued to defend him.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka welcomed the resignation, describing it as a victory for the BJP’s campaign and public pressure. He alleged that the government had attempted to shield Nagendra despite the seriousness of the allegations.
Ashoka said the BJP’s pressure had increased after the party announced plans for a padayatra and accused the government of trying to avoid a detailed discussion on the issue. He claimed that the resignation demonstrated that the Congress government had eventually yielded to mounting public and opposition pressure.
Vijayendra, however, made it clear that the BJP would not end its agitation with Nagendra’s resignation. He said the party would continue its fight until the money allegedly diverted from accounts meant for the Valmiki community was recovered.
The BJP president announced that a padayatra would be held from Lingasugur to Ballari. He said the proposed march would not be restricted to the Valmiki Corporation issue and would also raise allegations relating to other government schemes and recruitment controversies.
According to Vijayendra, the BJP would use the padayatra to highlight alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission recruitment process, drought-related issues and alleged financial irregularities in the Gruha Lakshmi scheme.
The BJP has alleged that Rs 187 crore meant for the development of Scheduled Tribe communities was illegally diverted from the Valmiki Development Corporation. The allegations have triggered a prolonged political confrontation between the ruling Congress and the BJP.
BJP MLC and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said the resignation was not merely a political victory for the BJP but an issue concerning the interests of the Scheduled Tribe community. He alleged that funds intended for the welfare of the community had been misused.
Union Minister V. Somanna also welcomed Nagendra’s decision to resign, saying the opposition had performed its responsibility by raising the issue and demanding accountability. The BJP has maintained that the controversy required a comprehensive investigation into the alleged financial irregularities and the role of all those connected with the transactions. Party leaders said resignation alone would not bring the matter to a close.
The controversy had also spilled into the legislature, where BJP members repeatedly demanded action against Nagendra. The opposition alleged that the government had attempted to avoid sustained discussion on the issue and had curtailed the proceedings.
The BJP subsequently intensified its campaign outside the Assembly, with Vijayendra announcing the proposed padayatra as part of a broader strategy to put pressure on the Congress government.
ರಾಜ್ಯ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಒಂದು ಕೋಟಿ ದಲಿತರ ಹಿತಾಸಕ್ತಿಗಿಂತ, ದಲಿತರ ಹಣ ದೋಚಿದ ಆರೋಪ ಎದುರಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಒಬ್ಬ ಭ್ರಷ್ಟ ಸಚಿವ ನಾಗೇಂದ್ರರೇ ಮುಖ್ಯವೇ?
ದಲಿತ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಹಣದ ಹಗರಣದ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ದಲಿತರು ಎಚ್ಚೆತ್ತುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ದಲಿತರ ಹಣಕ್ಕೆ ನ್ಯಾಯ ದೊರೆಯಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಸಚಿವ ನಾಗೇಂದ್ರ ಅವರನ್ನು ಸಂಪುಟದಿಂದ… pic.twitter.com/U4ojQUnQxR
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) August 24, 2026
The resignation has now shifted the political focus to the next phase of the BJP’s agitation. While the Congress government is likely to argue that the resignation allows the investigation to proceed independently, the BJP is seeking to keep the alleged scam at the centre of the political debate.
Vijayendra has said the party will continue its campaign until the diverted funds are restored and those responsible are held accountable. The proposed padayatra is therefore expected to become the next major platform for the BJP to expose the government on corruption and governance issues.
The development marks an important political moment for the opposition, which has sought to portray the Nagendra episode as evidence of its ability to force the government to respond to sustained public and legislative pressure.
