B.R. Patil Resigns as Political Advisor to Siddaramaiah, Revealing Rift in Karnataka Congress
Discontent over limited role in governance and sidelining in key decisions cited as reasons for resignation.
In a surprising development, veteran Karnataka politician B.R. Patil has resigned as political advisor to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, exposing deeper divisions within the state Congress and highlighting the ongoing internal power struggles.
Patil, a four-time MLA from Aland in Kalaburagi district, has been a long-time loyalist of Siddaramaiah. His resignation, however, comes amid growing tensions in the Karnataka Congress, particularly concerning the ongoing rivalry between Siddaramaiah and state Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. While some sources suggested that the resignation was not directly related to the Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar conflict, it is clear that Patil's dissatisfaction stemmed from being sidelined in the government’s decision-making processes.
According to party insiders, Patil, who hails from the Kalaburagi region—a stronghold of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge—was frustrated with the limited influence he had in the administration. Despite his close ties to Siddaramaiah, Patil felt neglected when it came to political discussions and the allocation of development projects for his constituency, citing a lack of funding. His frustrations were further compounded when he failed to secure a ministerial position, with the spots being filled by Priyank Kharge (Mallikarjun Kharge’s son) and Sharan Prakash Patil, another MLA from Kalaburagi.
Siddaramaiah responded to the resignation by saying, “I will talk to him. The resignation letter came from Bengaluru, I did not read it. I will call him up.” Despite these reassurances, sources reveal that Patil was deeply unhappy with his role and felt excluded from key political deliberations. His limited involvement in governance led to his resignation, which he formally submitted on Friday, citing unspecified “problems.”
Patil had also voiced dissatisfaction with the government's policy decisions, including a protest he staged last month to demand the implementation of a law guaranteeing minimum support prices for farmers. Although Patil initially intended to resign earlier, he postponed the decision until the passage of the Karnataka Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, which protects advisors to the Chief Minister and Deputy CM from being disqualified as MLAs. Following the Governor's assent to the bill, Patil felt free to tender his resignation, which he confirmed he would not retract.
Patil’s decision to step down sheds light on the tense state of Karnataka Congress politics. His earlier complaints about the treatment of MLAs, which he raised in a letter to Siddaramaiah in July 2023, had already exposed underlying discontent within the party. That letter, which highlighted the unfair treatment of senior MLAs who were not appointed to the Cabinet, triggered a political row.
In an effort to placate discontented leaders, three senior MLAs, including Patil, were given Cabinet-ranked positions. Patil was appointed as the Chief Minister’s political advisor, but his frustration with his limited role in governance appears to have led to his ultimate resignation.
As the power dynamics in Karnataka Congress continue to unfold, Patil’s resignation further underscores the growing internal rifts and challenges facing the party in the state.