A Cabinet reshuffle in Karnataka appears imminent as the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government has completed two-and-a-half years in power. Multiple legislators, both experienced and first-time members, are actively lobbying for ministerial positions. Senior leader B K Hariprasad and several MLAs recently travelled to Delhi to meet the central leadership. Currently, 16 berths are vacant in the 34-member Cabinet, with two additional vacancies created by resignations. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar acknowledged these trips, stating legislators are seeking their future prospects. However, the reshuffle faces delays due to internal party dynamics. Shivakumar opposes any expansion unless he is elevated to Chief Minister, while Siddaramaiah's supporters want a new state president. Congress insiders suggest the induction of new ministers will likely occur in late December or January 2026, not before the Winter Session starting December 8. The party is also considering upcoming local body elections while making these decisions.
Ministerial Aspirants and Political Calculations
Several senior Congress leaders are competing for Cabinet positions. B K Hariprasad, overlooked during Siddaramaiah's 2013-2018 term, has strong claims. Former Deputy CM Laxman Savadi, former ministers T B Jayachandra, Basavaraj Raya Reddy, and R V Deshpande are also contenders. First-time MLAs, including Siddaramaiah's legal advisor A S Ponnanna and Nayana Motamma, argue they deserve opportunities similar to ministers Priyank Kharge and Krishna Byre Gowda who received berths after their first wins. Regional factors matter too; Bengaluru currently has four ministers but may gain two more ahead of Greater Bengaluru Area polls. Two vacancies resulted from B Nagendra's resignation over Valmiki Corporation fraud allegations and K N Rajanna's dismissal for controversial comments.
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