BENGALURU: Karnataka Pradesh Mahila Congress president Soumya Reddy has submitted her resignation from the organisational post, citing the completion of her two-year tenure while raising concerns over the absence of women ministers in the state Cabinet.
Reddy submitted her resignation in a letter dated August 20, 2026, addressed to All India Mahila Congress president Alka Lamba. The resignation became public on October 17, renewing debate over women’s representation in the Karnataka government and the Congress party’s organisational leadership.
In her letter, Reddy reportedly said she had accepted the position with the understanding that she would serve for two years. While expressing gratitude for the opportunity to lead the organisation, she urged the party leadership to address the lack of women in the state Cabinet.
Reddy flags absence of women ministers
A key concern highlighted in Reddy’s letter was that Karnataka continued to have no women ministers in the state government. She urged the All India Mahila Congress leadership to bring the issue to the attention of the Congress high command.
The absence of women in the Cabinet has been a point of discussion within the Karnataka Congress, with questions raised about women’s participation in decision-making at the highest levels of government.
Reddy’s intervention has brought renewed attention to demands for greater representation of women in ministerial positions. Her letter also places the issue before the party’s national leadership, which oversees organisational appointments and political strategy.
The development comes amid wider discussions about women’s participation in politics, both through elected representation and leadership roles within political organisations.
Praises party’s five guarantee schemes
Reflecting on her tenure, Reddy expressed gratitude for the opportunity to travel across Karnataka, interact with women and discuss issues related to health, education and finance.
She also highlighted the impact of the Congress government’s five guarantee schemes, saying that her work had allowed her to witness their effects on women at the grassroots level.
Reddy thanked the Congress high command, the All India Congress Committee, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee leadership, serving and former chief ministers, legislators, ministers and party workers for their support during her tenure.
Her remarks indicated that she intended to acknowledge her experience in the role while drawing attention to issues she believed required further consideration by the party leadership.
To continue until successor is appointed
Although she has submitted her resignation, Reddy has clarified that she will continue as Karnataka Pradesh Mahila Congress president until the party appoints a successor.
This arrangement is intended to ensure continuity in the organisation while the leadership decides on a replacement. The date on which a new president will take charge has not been specified in the reports available.
Reddy has also made clear that stepping down from the organisational position does not mean leaving the Congress. She has reaffirmed her commitment to the party and said she would continue working for its programmes and political objectives.
She has pledged to contribute to the party’s preparations for the 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Focus returns to women’s representation
Reddy’s resignation has renewed attention on the representation of women in Karnataka’s political leadership. While her letter cites the completion of her agreed two-year tenure, it also explicitly highlights the absence of women ministers as an issue that the Congress leadership should address.
The immediate organisational question is when the party will appoint her successor. The broader political question is whether the leadership will respond to the demand for greater women’s representation in the state Cabinet.
For now, Reddy has indicated that she will remain in the organisational role until a replacement is named and will continue to work for the Congress thereafter. Her letter has placed women’s representation back on the agenda within the Karnataka unit of the party.