Karnataka cabinet reshuffle likely after Bihar elections, half the ministers may be dropped
Karnataka Cabinet Reshuffle: The Congress high command is likely to give the green signal for a major reshuffle in the Karnataka cabinet after the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, with reports suggesting that nearly 50 percent of the current ministers may be dropped.
Sources indicate that the reshuffle will be aimed at infusing new energy into the administration and rewarding loyal party workers who have been waiting for an opportunity.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is reportedly keen to fill the two vacant cabinet berths at the earliest, but party insiders say the final approval from the Congress high command will come only after the Bihar polls.
Discussions are also underway to bring in fresh faces to strengthen the government’s performance amid growing internal dissatisfaction.
Legislative Council chief whip Saleem Ahmad, who recently visited New Delhi, is said to have expressed disappointment over being denied a ministerial berth when the party came to power.
Meanwhile, Housing Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan has demanded that former minister B. Nagendra, who had resigned over allegations in the Maharshi Valmiki ST Corporation scam, be reinstated into the cabinet.
Speculation is also rife that Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa may step down in favor of his daughter, KGF MLA Roopakala Shashidhar. There are also talks of replacing Excise Minister R.B. Thimmapur with another SC (Left) leader, with former ED officer and MLC Sudham Das emerging as a strong contender.
Das is known to have close ties with both Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Further, Social Welfare Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa’s position could also be reshuffled, with Malavalli MLA P.M. Narendra Swamy being seen as a strong replacement candidate from the SC (Right) community.
According to party insiders, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have already submitted a performance report on ministers to the party leadership, which will serve as the basis for the reshuffle.
AICC general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala has also collected feedback from party legislators and is reportedly considering assigning organizational roles to those who may be dropped from the cabinet.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah is said to be lobbying AICC organization in-charge K.C. Venugopal to convince Rahul Gandhi to reinduct former minister K.N. Rajanna, who was removed for criticizing the Congress leadership over Rahul’s “Vote Chori” campaign.
Sources suggest that Venugopal has agreed to take up Siddaramaiah’s request, but Rahul Gandhi has sought further review before any decision is finalized.
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