India, Aug. 28 -- Karnataka Minister B Nagendra announced his resignation from the state Cabinet led by chief minister DK Shivakumar, as well as from his MLA seat, on Friday, following allegations of his involvement in financial irregularities at the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation.

In tears at a press conference, he said he had decided to "voluntarily step down" to avoid "embarrassment to the party".

"I am resigning of my own will to avoid the embarrassment that may cost my party because of unnecessary allegations made by the opposition party against me," he said, adding that he was a victim of the BJP's "manuvadi" politics.

Nagendra's resignation came amid heightened political pressure on him and the Congress...