DK Shivakumar camp pushes for ‘Gujarat model’ cabinet revamp in Karnataka Congress
DK Shivakumar: Even as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah prepares for a major cabinet reshuffle to mark two and a half years of his government, a new twist has emerged within the Congress as the DK Shivakumar faction has demanded a “Gujarat model” restructuring of the cabinet — replacing a large number of existing ministers with fresh faces.
Siddaramaiah is scheduled to visit New Delhi on November 15, where he will meet AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, and AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal to seek approval for the proposed cabinet overhaul. If cleared by the high command, the reshuffle is expected to take place before November 26.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who was in the national capital earlier this week to discuss the Cauvery water dispute and the “Save the Constitution” campaign, is said to have briefed the central leadership on internal developments in the state unit. He is expected to return to Delhi over the weekend for further consultations.
Sources in the party say there is a growing demand to drop nearly 15 non-performing ministers who have failed to contribute to the organisation or connect with workers. The Congress high command is reportedly reviewing individual performance reports of ministers and is considering applying the “Kamaraj formula” — dropping senior ministers to make way for new and younger legislators.
The Shivakumar camp has drawn parallels to the recent reshuffle in Gujarat, where Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel sought the resignation of all 16 ministers and inducted 19 new faces, retaining only six from the old team. Congress leaders loyal to Shivakumar argue that a similar approach in Karnataka could rejuvenate the party’s image and strengthen its prospects ahead of the 2027 Assembly and local body elections.
“Except for the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, all others should resign and make way for fresh faces. Senior ministers can be assigned party responsibilities,” a senior leader told Prajavani.
Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has reportedly indicated his willingness to step down, and the Shivakumar faction wants other senior ministers to show the same “generosity.” The faction contends that certain leaders repeatedly corner key portfolios after every Congress victory but contribute little to strengthening the organisation — a practice it insists must end if the party is serious about renewal.
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