Karnataka MLAs push for cabinet reshuffle in Delhi visit
Karnataka MLAs push for cabinet reshuffle in Delhi visit
Karnataka Congress MLAs travel to Delhi to press for a cabinet reshuffle, signaling internal party debates as leadership decisions loom.
A delegation of senior Karnataka Congress MLAs has traveled to Delhi to press for a cabinet reshuffle that would accommodate ministers and senior leaders who have been waiting for portfoli0 assignments. The group includes Ashok Pattan, S.N. Narayanaswamy, K. Shadakshari, AR Krishnamurthy, Puttaranga Shetty and Belur Gopal Krishna, among others. Their push centers on refreshing the cabinet with experienced voices, arguing that the current term can still benefit from reallocation of portfolios as the government enters its remaining two years.
The move comes in the midst of ongoing intra-party friction linked to the 2023 power-sharing understanding between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister’s post. While some factions have pressed for leadership changes, the chief minister and Shivakumar have repeatedly stated that any leadership decisions will be made by the party high command, not on the floor of the assembly.
Party leaders in Delhi describe the visit as part of routine organisational outreach rather than a crisis moment. The MLAs intend to meet senior Congress figures including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, K.C. Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala to voice their cabinet demands and seek guidance on timing and portfolios. They also conveyed that an audience with Rahul Gandhi could be sought if an appointment is granted. The delegation frames the reshuffle discussion around seniority and timely placement, but stresses that final decisions rest with the high command.
A senior MLA, T.B. Jayachandra, stressed that this trip is routine, aimed at presenting a case to the high command. He noted there are two years left in the current term and emphasized that leadership matters are squarely in the hands of the party leadership, not local legislators. The Delhi meetings signal a continued attempt by party leaders to manage internal expectations while avoiding public rifts, even as discussions about governance and future leadership continue at the highest levels.
