Bengaluru/New Delhi, November 16: Karnataka’s Congress government was thrust into a fresh round of uncertainty over the weekend as a series of meetings in New Delhi involving senior state leaders fuelled speculation about a cabinet reshuffle and possible shifts in the party’s leadership structure.
Home Minister G. Parameshwara suggested on Sunday that the party was moving only toward a reshuffle of the cabinet, saying the decision would be taken by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress leadership. “It is said that the high command has given permission for a reshuffle… Normally, leadership changes do not happen when the cabinet reshuffle takes place,” he told reporters.
His remarks came a day after Siddaramaiah reportedly met Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in New Delhi. While Siddaramaiah insisted the discussion focused solely on the Bihar election, party insiders said cabinet matters were also raised. The chief minister, speaking in Bengaluru, maintained that there had been “no conversation about the cabinet reshuffle at all,” though he added he might return to Delhi if a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi was confirmed.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who remained in Delhi after cancelling a scheduled trip to Hyderabad, said he had no information on Siddaramaiah’s meeting with Rahul Gandhi or the possibility of a reshuffle. “If you want to ask anything about reshuffling or leadership change, speak to the chief minister. We have to follow what the party says,” he said.
Shivakumar’s brother, former MP D.K. Suresh, also in Delhi on Sunday, said he had only seen media reports about potential changes and that any decision rested with the chief minister and the party high command.
Senior party figures in Delhi acknowledged growing internal pressure ahead of the winter session, which begins on December 8. The government has one vacant cabinet berth, and Congress leaders are weighing whether to replace eight to twelve ministers to address factional demands and regional considerations, subject to approval from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Several legislators — including N.A. Harris, Rizwan Arshad, B.K. Hariprasad, Belur Gopalakrishna, H.C. Balakrishna, Saleem Ahmed, R.V. Deshpande, Prasad Abbayya Nagendra, M. Krishnappa, Laxman Savadi, A.S. Ponnanna, Shivalinge Gowda, Roopakala Shashidhar and Malur Nanjegowda — are being discussed as contenders for ministerial positions. Hubballi-Dharwad East MLA Prasad Abbayya said he was a candidate but would abide by the high command’s decision.
The prospect of a reshuffle has intensified tensions between factions supporting Siddaramaiah and those aligned with Shivakumar. Party insiders said the deputy chief minister’s camp was concerned that any changes could sideline its members, while Siddaramaiah was believed to be pushing for adjustments to bolster his administration as national election planning picks up pace.
Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi said the party should move to clarify the growing speculation. He added that his recent visit to Delhi was not political and that decisions on cabinet expansion or party leadership would ultimately be taken by the Congress high command.
“The leadership is observing the confusion,” Jarkiholi said. “It would be good if the top brass clarified this at the earliest.”
