Karnataka Pradesh Mahila Congress President Soumya Reddy has resigned from her post. She has written a letter to All India Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba requesting her to accept her resignation.
Bengaluru: The issue of women representation in Karnataka politics has once again come into discussion. Karnataka Pradesh Mahila Congress President Soumya Reddy has requested to resign from her post. She wrote a letter to Alka Lamba, President of All India Mahila Congress, appealing to accept her resignation.
Soumya Reddy said that she had taken up this responsibility for a tenure of two years and now she wants to fulfill her commitment. However, his letter also expressed concern over the absence of any woman minister in the state government cabinet.
Resignation request after completion of two years tenure
Soumya Reddy told in a letter dated 20 August 2026 that when she took over the post of President of Karnataka Pradesh Mahila Congress, she planned to fulfill this responsibility for two years. Describing this occasion as honorable, he expressed his gratitude towards the party leadership. According to him, while holding this post, he got the opportunity to work among the women of the state, understand their problems and take the programs of Congress to them. He described his tenure as an important experience for learning and connecting with people.
Communicated with women across the state
Soumya Reddy said in her letter that she visited different parts of Karnataka and talked to women on issues like health, education and economic needs. During this period, along with understanding the problems of women and their expectations, attention was also paid to connecting them with the Congress organization. He said that direct interaction with women gave him the opportunity to know how government schemes and political decisions impact their daily lives. According to him, listening to women's issues and increasing their participation was an important part of his tenure.
Mentioned the effect of five guarantee schemes
Soumya Reddy also prominently mentioned the five guarantee schemes of the Congress government of Karnataka in his letter. He claimed that during his visit to the state, he saw the impact of these schemes in the lives of women. Congress has presented these schemes as its major political and public welfare initiatives.
According to Sowmya Reddy, the conversations among women about these schemes gave her an opportunity to closely understand their social and economic impact. However, to comprehensively assess the impact of the schemes, it is important to look at government data and also independent evaluation.
'There is not a single woman minister in Karnataka cabinet'
The most important part of Soumya Reddy's letter is related to the participation of women in the state cabinet. He requested Alka Lamba to raise this issue with the top leadership of Congress. He expressed concern that despite the Congress government in Karnataka, no woman has got a ministerial post in the cabinet. According to her, women's political participation should not be limited only to giving responsibilities in the organization, but they should also get representation in important decision-making positions of the government.
This issue is related to the broader debate about the role of women in political parties and their participation in power. However, no response from the party leadership to this statement of Soumya Reddy has been given in the available details.
Expressed gratitude to Congress leadership and workers
In his letter, Soumya Reddy thanked the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), senior party leaders, current and former chief ministers, MLAs, ministers and workers. He said that during his tenure he received cooperation and support at various levels of the organization.
He also clarified that requesting to step down does not mean distancing himself from the Congress. She will continue to work for the ideology and programs of the party.