Bengaluru, June 5 (IANS) Amid the crisis faced by the new Congress government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and AICC President, Mallikarjun Kharge, arrived in Bengaluru on Friday to take part in the filing of nomination by Kharge for the Rajya Sabha election from the state.

Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to take part in the filing of nomination by Mallikarjun Kharge for the Rajya Sabha election from Karnataka at the Vidhana Soudha, along with senior leaders Pawan Khera and Mansoor Ali Khan.

Upon their arrival, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge were accorded a warm welcome by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, State Congress President B.K. Hariprasad, and former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Siddaramaiah.

Later, Rahul Gandhi planted a sapling and watered it upon his arrival at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru from Delhi on Friday, ahead of attending the nomination filing event of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge for the Rajya Sabha elections.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Minister M.B. Patil, and other senior leaders were present on the occasion.

It can be recalled that Minister for Water Resources Ramalinga Reddy on Friday announced his decision to resign from the Karnataka Cabinet, alleging that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had gone back on his promise regarding the allocation of the Bengaluru Urban portfolio.

The development also comes a day after the allocation of portfolios.

Speaking from his Koramangala office in Bengaluru, Reddy said he would submit his resignation and leave it to the leadership to decide whether to accept it or not.

He further claimed that during the current government formation process, he was promised the Bengaluru Urban portfolio after 2.5 years and was persuaded to accept the arrangement.

He alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and his brother D.K. Suresh had personally assured him at his residence that the promise would be honoured. He said that despite repeated assurances, he was later allocated the Water Resources portfolio instead of Bengaluru Urban.

In another setback to the newly formed Karnataka government, veteran Congress leader and Minister K. H. Muniyappa has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the allocation of the Food and Civil Supplies Department and announced that he will not assume charge of the ministry. Senior minister has also urged the high command to step in rectify what has gone wrong.

A seven-time Member of Parliament and current MLA from Devanahalli, Muniyappa hails from the Dalit community and is regarded as one of the senior-most leaders in the Karnataka Congress. A former Union Minister, he is known for his loyalty to the party and his people-friendly approach. He previously served as Minister for Food and Civil Supplies.

–IANS

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