In a major political development in Southern India, Karnataka Planning and Statistics Minister B. Nagendra formally submitted his resignation from Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's cabinet. The sudden exit comes barely 25 days after Nagendra was sworn into office, following intense opposition demands triggered by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chargesheet linked to an ongoing financial corruption investigation. During an emotional press briefing in Bengaluru, Nagendra denied all allegations of wrongdoing, alleging that opposition leaders were intentionally targeting his political career due to his tribal background. The resignation has intensified ongoing parliamentary and assembly debates regarding public sector governance, judicial accountability, and anti-corruption oversight across regional coalition governments. Second Resignation Amid High-Profile Corruption Investigation Karnataka Planning and Statistics Minister B. Nagendra voluntarily resigned from the state Cabinet, just 25 days after his re-induction into the government. The resignation follows mounting political pressure after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet naming Nagendra in connection with the alleged financial irregularities at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Addressing a emotional press conference at Vidhana Soudha, Nagendra announced his decision to step down to avoid causing political embarrassment to the ruling party, while asserting his innocence and rejecting the corruption charges. Sanction for Prosecution and Opposition Protests The immediate trigger for Nagendra's exit was Governor Thawarchand Gehlot granting formal sanction to the CBI to prosecute the Ballari Rural MLA under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The decision amplified calls from opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular), who had disrupted state assembly sessions and planned a 10-day protest march demanding his immediate removal. The CBI chargesheet alleges that ₹89.63 crore allocated for tribal welfare initiatives was diverted via forged banking instruments into hundreds of shell accounts, benefiting private intermediaries and officials. Legal Battle and Political Aftermath Defending his tenure, Nagendra maintained that state investigative bodies had found no direct evidence linking him to the unauthorized transfers and argued that the central agency charges were politically motivated. He further noted that the entirety of the corporation's misappropriated funds had been tracked and recovered by investigators. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated that while he maintained confidence in Nagendra's integrity, the resignation would be reviewed with party leadership to determine the next steps for restructuring the state Cabinet.