Karnataka Home Minister hints at cabinet reshuffle, new state Congress chief

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday hinted that discussions are ongoing regarding a potential cabinet reshuffle and a change in the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president.
He said that any decisions on these matters would be taken by the party leadership.
Parameshwara’s remarks came in response to questions about the ongoing developments within the state Congress. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who has been serving as the KPCC president for over four years, is currently on an extension in the post.
DK Shivakumar is in Delhi with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also scheduled to travel to the national capital, where a Congress working committee meeting is set to take place on Friday.
When asked about the possibility of a reshuffle, Parameshwara said, “The state Congress president (Shivakumar) has gone to Delhi… I have come to know that the Chief Minister is also going today. There is a Congress working committee meeting tomorrow. They are going for that. After the meeting, I don’t know whether they will discuss with the high command regarding the cabinet reshuffle.”
He added that there have also been talks circulating about changing the state Congress president along with the cabinet reshuffle. However, he reiterated that such decisions will be made by the Chief Minister and Shivakumar, in consultation with the party high command.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao also weighed in on the issue, acknowledging the talks around a possible change in leadership. “Shivakumar has done a good job as president, bringing the party to power and working tirelessly,” he said. However, he noted that Shivakumar’s term has exceeded five years, and there have been discussions about the possibility of a new president taking over to provide a full-term leadership.
Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who has been speculated as a potential contender for the KPCC president post, remarked that leading the party is a significant responsibility, and he is prepared for the challenge if called upon.
Speculation about a cabinet reshuffle has been brewing since the results of the Lok Sabha elections. Several MLAs have expressed their aspirations to be inducted into the cabinet, with some publicly voicing their desire to take on ministerial roles. It remains to be seen whether these calls will be addressed in the upcoming leadership meetings.