New Delhi: A group of first-time MPs from Karnataka have written to senior party leaders, including the Congress president Malikajun Hager and former party general secretary Rahul Gandhi – Seeking representation in the state cabinet during the proposed reshuffle.In a joint statement to the Congress high command and the state leadership, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister and state unit president DK Shivakumar, the legislators urged at least five first-time ministers to be appointed as ministers.“We ask that you ensure that at least five first-time ministerial MPs are accommodated during the reshuffle,” the letter said.
The legislator pointed out that 38 of the 135 MPs elected out of the 224-member House of Representatives in the 2023 Assembly polls are first-time MPs as a “clear message” from the people as they want to see “new young faces”.“As you know, the people elected 38 MPs to Parliament for the first time, thereby sending a clear message that they want to see new, young faces in the legislature,” the lawmakers wrote.They further pointed out that when the 34-member cabinet was formed under Siddaramaiah, no new legislators entered the cabinet.“That being the case, it is reasonable that first-time incumbents are also taken care of. Providing young, energetic and motivated new MLAs with the opportunity to serve as ministers is the need of the hour,” the letter stated.The signatories argued that the appointment of new people to ministerial posts was not “unprecedented” and pointed out that in several states, first-time MLAs later became chief ministers or ministers. They believe the combination of youth and experience will strike the “right balance” in governance and strengthen the party’s prospects in 2028.The letter comes amid the ongoing leadership tussle within the state Congress, with Shivakumar reiterating his demand for the top job, reportedly based on an understanding with the party high command following the 2023 victory. At that time, veteran leader Siddaramaiah was chosen to lead the government for a second term, while Shivakumar was appointed as deputy, reportedly guaranteeing the chief minister’s job for the second half of his five-year term.The Congress government in Karnataka completed its first two-and-a-half-year term in November 2025.(with PTI input)
