Senior Congress leader and Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy has resigned from the state cabinet, just days after taking oath in the newly formed government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The resignation follows his reported dissatisfaction with the portfolio allotted to him.

According to reports, Reddy was assigned the Major and Medium Irrigation department during the cabinet portfolio distribution announced on Friday. However, the veteran leader was said to be seeking the Bengaluru Development portfolio, which eventually went to Krishna Byre Gowda.

The development comes at a sensitive time for the new Karnataka government, which was sworn in earlier this week after D.K. Shivakumar took charge as Chief Minister. Portfolio allocation had reportedly been delayed amid intense lobbying for several key departments, including those linked to Bengaluru’s administration and infrastructure.

Reddy cites repeated humiliation

In his resignation, Ramalinga Reddy reportedly expressed strong disappointment with the manner in which the portfolio allocation was handled. He is said to have felt sidelined despite his seniority in the party and flagged what he described as a reversal of earlier assurances.

Reports indicated that meetings were held involving Shivakumar, Reddy and other senior leaders as efforts were made to resolve the issue. However, the discussions did not result in a breakthrough, leading to Reddy’s decision to step down from the ministry.

Early challenge for Shivakumar government

Reddy’s resignation marks one of the first major political challenges for the newly formed Congress government in Karnataka. The cabinet formation process had already drawn attention due to competition for influential portfolios and ongoing efforts to balance various factions within the party.

It remains to be seen whether the Congress leadership will attempt to persuade Reddy to reconsider his decision or move ahead with a cabinet reshuffle to address the vacancy.

The controversy surrounding NEET UG 2026 has taken a new turn after allegations surfaced that a group of brokers was offering admission to government medical colleges by manipulating candidates’ OMR answer sheets for a hefty payment. The claims come at a time when the medical entrance examination is already under intense scrutiny following the paper leak row and the subsequent decision to conduct a re-examination.

According to reports, a candidate from Gujarat approached authorities after allegedly being contacted by intermediaries who claimed they could secure enough marks for admission to a government medical college by tampering with OMR sheets. The alleged demand was around Rs. 20 lakh per candidate.

Alleged racket avoided promises of top ranks

The complainant claimed that the brokers did not offer unrealistically high scores or top ranks. Instead, they allegedly promised to increase marks only to the extent required for securing admission to a government medical college, a strategy reportedly designed to avoid raising suspicion during scrutiny.

The matter has reportedly been brought to the attention of the Gujarat Cyber Crime Cell through a written complaint, prompting calls for a detailed investigation into the claims.

OMR manipulation concerns have surfaced before

The allegations have renewed concerns about the security of OMR-based examinations. In recent years, courts and investigating agencies have examined multiple cases involving alleged OMR manipulation linked to medical entrance examinations. The Gujarat High Court recently observed that allegations in a NEET-UG 2024 OMR manipulation case warranted a full trial after investigators claimed students’ answer sheets were altered to inflate scores.

Authorities have also previously received complaints from candidates alleging discrepancies in uploaded OMR sheets, though such claims have been disputed by examination authorities in several instances.

NEET UG 2026 already facing scrutiny

The latest allegations come against the backdrop of the wider NEET UG 2026 controversy. The examination conducted on May 3 was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak, and a fresh examination has been scheduled for June 21. Multiple investigations are underway, while courts and parliamentary bodies are also examining issues related to the conduct of the exam.

Authorities have not publicly confirmed the OMR manipulation allegations, and investigations are expected to determine whether any such network was actually capable of influencing examination outcomes.

The Centre has begun efforts to build political consensus for a renewed delimitation exercise, with the possibility of introducing a fresh bill and completing the process before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, according to government sources. The move could lead to the first major redrawing of parliamentary constituencies in decades and revive a debate that has remained politically sensitive across several states.

Sources indicated that the government has started discussions with a range of political stakeholders, including regional parties, before taking any legislative steps. Among those reportedly consulted are the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Trinamool Congress, while talks are said to be continuing with other regional formations as well.

Why delimitation is significant

Delimitation refers to the process of redrawing the boundaries of parliamentary and assembly constituencies to reflect changes in population. The current allocation of Lok Sabha seats among states is based on population figures from the 1971 Census, as seat redistribution has remained frozen for decades.

The issue has become increasingly contentious because several southern states have expressed concerns that population-based redistribution could reduce their relative influence in Parliament despite their success in controlling population growth. The Centre has acknowledged these concerns while continuing discussions on possible approaches.

Political debate likely to intensify

The subject of delimitation has already triggered sharp political debate this year. Earlier proposals linked to delimitation and women’s reservation faced opposition from several parties, particularly over questions surrounding representation and the use of census data.

Government representatives have maintained that any future delimitation exercise would not reduce the representation of southern states and have argued that an increase in the overall number of Lok Sabha seats could preserve the existing balance among states while expanding representation.

For now, consultations are continuing, and no final decision on the proposed legislation has been announced. However, the Centre’s latest outreach indicates that delimitation is likely to remain a key political and constitutional issue in the run-up to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.