31 First-Time MLAs Demand Ministerial Berths In Cabinet Reshuffle

BENGALUR: As the State Government approaches 3 years in power, first-time Congress MLAs are demanding a share in the cabinet and piling pressure on Central leaders with a letter signed by as many as 31 people. Of the 136 Congress MLAs, 38 are first-time incumbents and 31 have signed a letter demanding that at least 5 of them be given ministerial posts in the cabinet reshuffle.

For the first time, MLAs stated that it is important to appear before the public by projecting young people while claiming the ministerial seat in the face of the 2028 Assembly elections. There needs to be a combination of youth and experience to retain power.

The letter asking for ministerial posts to MLAs for the first time was leaked when Karnataka party incharge and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala was visiting Bengaluru.

The signatories include Pradeep Eshwar, AS Ponnanna, Darshan Dhruvanarayan, P. Ravikumar, AC Srinivas and this document is addressed to Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

Ramanagara MP Iqbal Hussain, one of the signatories demanding a ministerial berth, told reporters: “Along with reshuffling of duties, reshuffling of the cabinet is also equally important.”

On the need for cabinet reshuffle during Legislative Party meetings, Hussain said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was informed as some ministers did not respond to his requests. Eve, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar due to the indifferent attitude of some ministers.

“The demand for change in the cabinet has been going on for about 6 months,” he said, describing the performance of some ministers as “inadequate”.

A few months ago, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced that the party high command had instructed him to initiate steps towards reshuffling the cabinet.