Siddaramaiah Gets Rahul Gandhi’s Nod for Major Karnataka Cabinet Reshuffle
Congress high command backs CM amid Bihar defeat.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah obtained explicit clearance from Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to proceed with a comprehensive cabinet reshuffle during a strategically timed meeting in Delhi on Saturday. The interaction, which extended for about twenty minutes and centered on Karnataka's internal political dynamics, was precipitated by the Congress-led INDIA bloc's disappointing performance in the recent Bihar assembly elections, prompting a reassessment of leadership stability in key states.
Accompanied by Energy Minister KJ George, Siddaramaiah received Gandhi's directive to coordinate the reshuffle details with All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge, thereby securing the necessary endorsement from the party's central command. This authorization positions Siddaramaiah to execute a significant overhaul, potentially dismissing 10 to 12 incumbent ministers, which would solidify his grip on power and enable him to surpass the midway point of his term on November 20 without relinquishing the chief ministerial post.
This maneuver represents a formidable obstacle to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's long-held aspirations for succession, as it contravenes a purported power-sharing pact brokered by the high command in 2023 upon Congress's ascent to power in Karnataka. The agreement allegedly designated the first half of the five-year tenure for Siddaramaiah and the latter half for Shivakumar; however, political observers indicate that Shivakumar may be compelled to postpone his claims amid the party's current fragility, especially given Karnataka's status as Congress's primary stronghold nationwide.
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A delegation of ministers loyal to Siddaramaiah, comprising Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh, Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa, Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, Higher Education Minister Dr MC Sudhakar, and Assembly chief whip Ashok Pattan, traveled with the Chief Minister to Delhi, signaling factional alignments ahead of the impending changes. Concurrently, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar jointly attended the release of the 100th episode of senior leader and Supreme Court advocate Kapil Sibal's book series 'Dil Se', projecting a facade of unity despite underlying tensions.
Looking ahead, Siddaramaiah is slated to engage Prime Minister Narendra Modi in discussions on Monday, where he will formally petition for the release of Rs 1,545 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund to address extensive infrastructure rehabilitation necessitated by severe southwest monsoon damage, particularly in northern Karnataka districts. The agenda will further encompass advocacy for central policy interventions to bolster sugarcane farmers and sugar industry stakeholders through elevated fair and remunerative prices, assured minimum support prices for sugar, streamlined export mechanisms, and prioritized ethanol quotas for oil marketing companies.
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