Karnataka Congress leader seeks cabinet reshuffle; first-time MLA pushes for representation

A delegation of senior Indian National Congress lawmakers from Karnataka traveled to New Delhi on Sunday to press for a cabinet reshuffle, even as first-time lawmakers renewed their demand for representation in the ministry.First-time MLAs have sought to bring in at least five members, while senior lawmakers are expected to urge the party leadership to consider including a raft of experienced leaders in the reshuffle.Senior MLAs, including state government’s special representative in New Delhi TB Jayachandra and Congress president Ashok Pattan, are likely to meet Mallikarjun Kharge and party general secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala.

They also said that efforts are on to secure a meeting with Rahul Gandhi.PTI quoted first-time minister Ravi Ganiga from Mandya as saying: “Everyone has the desire to become a minister. I have seen in the media that seniors who have won three, four, five times will go to Delhi to seek ministerial posts. I wish them all the best and hope they get ministerial posts and get a chance to serve the country. The reshuffle will be decided by the high command and the chief minister.” He said the position of first-time MLAs remains unchanged that they too should be given a chance.“We will meet soon and decide the next step. We have already met the party state president once and we were scheduled to meet the chief minister during the Legislative Council session but that was not possible. We will meet the chief minister and see what else can be done,” he said. Recently, a total of 38 legislators wrote to the party leadership, seeking at least five ministerial positions for the new legislators.Some first- and second-term legislators also called for a cabinet reshuffle and sought a seat in the cabinet, holding separate dinner meetings to strategize.Asked whether some current ministers should be replaced, Gowda said it would be better to bring in new faces in their place.“Some ministers are not available and work is not being carried out. Some ministers are not even accessible on phone…” he said, adding that the decision lies with the chief minister and the party high command.Gowda reiterated that the 38 first-time MLAs remained united and said they continued to demand at least five ministerial seats in the reshuffle, adding that there was nothing wrong in making such a demand.“While some are traveling on Sunday, the rest will be traveling on Monday morning. The current cabinet ministers have been in office for about three years and they have been given opportunities and we will demand that opportunities be given to senior MLAs now. We will raise our demands with AICC President Haq,” he added.According to Ashok Pathan, the MLA plans to stay in New Delhi for three to four days to seek a meeting with Rahul Gandhi and meet Malikajun Haq and other party leaders.The chief minister and deputy chief minister were aware of their visit, he said, adding, “Our agenda is only for immediate reshuffle. There is no discussion on leadership… Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are also likely to meet the high command soon to discuss reshuffle.”Karnataka has a total of 34 ministers, including the chief minister.Currently, two cabinet posts are vacant after the resignation of B Nagendra over alleged corruption in Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation and the removal of KN Rajanna on the instructions of the party leadership.Calls for a cabinet reshuffle are growing amid a leadership battle within the ruling Indian National Congress party over the chief minister’s post.Internal competition has intensified amid speculation that there could be a leadership change when the government completes the halfway point of its five-year term in November 2025. The speculation stems from the power-sharing understanding reportedly struck between Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.According to party sources, Siddaramaiah is in favor of a cabinet reshuffle, while Shivakumar has called for clarity on the leadership issue first.