Shivakumar Calls Karnataka Cabinet Shuffle Rumour

Speculations are rife that there will be a changing of the guard and cabinet reshuffle in the state when the Congress government reaches the halfway mark of its five-year term in November, referred to by some as the “November revolution”.

“There is no change in the cabinet, nothing. These are all gossip in the media, they reach someone’s ears. There are talks in the media. Either I or the prime minister needs to talk about this. What’s the point when neither of us talks?” Shivakumar told reporters in response to a question.

“Some of them have an urgent need (to become ministers). If their names appear in the media, they will go door to door (to leaders). There is no such chance. The high command will decide everything.”

According to party sources, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his team are pushing for reshuffle. They said that with the government about to complete 2.5 years in office, any move by the prime minister to reshuffle the cabinet would be seen as a message that he is at the helm and will continue to do so, which could be seen as a setback for Shivakumar, who is waiting to take over the chief minister’s post.

There has been speculation in the state’s political circles, especially the ruling Congress, about a change of chief minister later this year, amid an alleged power-sharing agreement involving Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

There has also been a demand for some time from a section of Congress MPs who are ministerial candidates to be included in the cabinet with a rejig. Some even openly expressed their desire to become ministers. Karnataka has a sanctioned strength of 34 ministers, including the CM.

Two seats in the cabinet are currently vacant; Following B Nagendra’s resignation as minister following allegations against him in connection with embezzlement in the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation and KN Rajanna’s recent dismissal from the cabinet on the instructions of the party high command.