Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Sunday that the decision on a possible cabinet reshuffle rests with the party’s top leadership, even as lawmakers from the state travel to New Delhi to press for changes in the ministry.
Speaking to reporters at the Travelers’ Home in NR Pura, the Prime Minister said: “The proposed reshuffle is up to the high command. There is nothing wrong with MLAs aspiring for ministerial posts during their visit to New Delhi.”
His remarks came as a delegation of senior Congress members left for Delhi on Sunday to put pressure on the party leadership, seeking a cabinet reshuffle and greater representation in the Cabinet. Several lawmakers who have served more than three terms are expected to meet All India Congress Committee chief Mallikarjun Karge and senior leaders KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, while also trying to secure an appointment with party leader Rahul Gandhi.
The group, which includes T P Jayachandra, special representative of the state government in New Delhi, and Assembly Speaker Ashok Pathan, is pushing for at least 20 of about 40 senior lawmakers to be taken into account in the reshuffle.
Before leaving, Jayachandra said the visit was voluntary and aimed at presenting their case to the leadership. “The current cabinet ministers have spent about three years in office. They have been given a chance. We will now request that senior MLAs be given a chance. We will put forward our demand before Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman Karg,” he said.
Ashok Pathan said the group plans to stay in the national capital for several days to follow up on meetings with the leadership. “Our agenda is just an immediate reshuffle. There is no discussion on the leadership issue…Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar may also meet the top leadership on the reshuffle soon,” he said.
At the same time, the new undersecretaries renewed their demands for representation, seeking at least five ministerial positions in any cabinet reorganization. About 38 of these legislators had earlier written to the party leadership to press their case.
Ravikumar Gowda (Ravi Ganeja), a first-time MLA from Mandya, said their position remained unchanged. “Everyone has a desire to become a minister. I have seen in the media that seniors – who have won three, four and five times – are going to Delhi to seek ministerial positions. I wish them luck, hoping that they will get ministerial positions and a chance to serve the state. The reshuffle is up to the high command and the prime minister,” he said.
He added that the group will decide its next steps soon. “We will meet soon and decide the next course of action. We have already met the party state president once and had a plan to meet the Prime Minister during the legislative session, but that was not possible. We will meet the Prime Minister and see what else can be done,” Gowda said.
Gowda also indicated dissatisfaction with the performance of some ministers. “Some ministers are not available, work is not happening. Some of them are not even available on phones…” he said, adding that ultimately the decisions rest with the prime minister and the party’s high leadership.
Responding to questions about the delay in the cabinet reshuffle, Siddaramaiah pointed out the competing priorities. He said, “The cabinet reshuffle is pending. Elections in five states and the budget session may have caused the delay.”
The push for the Cabinet overhaul comes amid a broader leadership debate within the ruling Congress, fueled by speculation over a power-sharing arrangement between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar after the government crosses the halfway mark of its term in November 2025.
(with PTI inputs)
