Karnataka Cabinet Reshuffle Speculation Dismissed by CM Siddaramaiah, Kharge

GG News Bureau
Kalaburagi, 11th June: Amid strong rumors of a potential cabinet reshuffle in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge today clarified that no such discussions have taken place.

Speculation had grown after a recent meeting at the Congress’s new headquarters in New Delhi. Congress President Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala met with CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy, Pradesh Congress Committee President D.K. Shivakumar.

“No discussion has happened on this (KPCC president change), also there has been no discussion on cabinet reshuffle, and new induction into the cabinet,” Mr. Kharge told reporters in Kalaburagi, directly addressing the rumors.

Similarly, CM Siddaramaiah, speaking in Chikkaballapura, also stated, “there was no discussion on this,” when asked about a cabinet reshuffle.

Despite these clear denials, pressure is reportedly building within the ruling Congress party for a cabinet reshuffle. This comes as the government has now completed two years in office. Some MLAs, hoping for ministerial roles, have openly called for a cabinet rejig, with a few publicly expressing their desire to join the cabinet. The state cabinet has not seen any reshuffle since the Congress government took power in May 2023.