MYSURU: Karnataka chief minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday accused the BJP of turning B Nagendra’s resignation into a political issue, saying the Opposition was more focused on its planned padayatra than on problems faced by farmers and people in the state, according to news agency PTI reported.The BJP-JD(S) has announced a march from Raichur to Ballari from September 1 to 10 over the alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.Shivakumar was responding to the BJP’s decision to continue with the padayatra despite Nagendra resigning as minister on Friday.“What BJP is doing is politics. For them, politics is more important and not the people’s lives. The welfare of the state is not important to them,” Shivakumar said.The BJP has said its campaign led to Nagendra’s resignation over the alleged Rs 89 crore scam in the Valmiki Corporation. It has maintained that the agitation will continue until those responsible for the alleged diversion of funds are held accountable.Shivakumar accused the Opposition of avoiding discussions on irrigation and other issues, including the Cauvery water dispute, drought and the Tungabhadra situation.“They do not want to discuss irrigation. They don’t want to discuss what the Cauvery issue is, what the drought situation is, or how the Tungabhadra issue was successfully handled,” he said.He said he had asked the Opposition to submit a notice and come for discussions instead of holding political protests.Defending Nagendra’s resignation, Shivakumar said the Congress leader had stepped down voluntarily to prevent embarrassment for the party.“He came voluntarily and said, ‘I will sacrifice myself for the party,’ and resigned. I am sending it to the Governor today,” he said.Nagendra, who was reinducted into the Cabinet on August 3 with the Planning and Statistics portfolio, resigned on Friday amid renewed pressure over the alleged Valmiki Corporation fund irregularities. He had earlier resigned as minister in June 2024 after the allegations emerged.The controversy centres on the alleged diversion of funds from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.The BJP had been demanding Nagendra’s removal and intensified protests in and outside the Assembly before announcing the Raichur-Ballari padayatra.Despite his resignation, the BJP has said it will continue the agitation, calling the move only the beginning of its campaign for accountability.Shivakumar also accused the BJP and the NDA of being unable to accept his becoming chief minister.“They are unable to digest my becoming chief minister. None of them is able to digest it. The NDA is unable to digest it. Poor fellows, they are doing what they are doing. Let them do well,” he said.
