A Cabinet reshuffle in Karnataka appears imminent as several Congress legislators actively seek ministerial positions. Multiple lawmakers, including veterans and first-time MLAs, have travelled to Delhi to meet the central leadership. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar acknowledged these efforts, stating legislators are pursuing their political futures following the Cabinet expansion announcement. The 34-member Cabinet currently has 16 vacant berths, plus two additional vacancies from recent resignations. Senior leader B K Hariprasad, who was overlooked during Siddaramaiah's previous tenure between 2013 and 2018, is among the prominent aspirants. The reshuffle was approved by the party high command five months ago, but Chief Minister Siddaramaiah preferred waiting until his government completed two-and-a-half years in power. Sources indicate the actual induction may occur in late December or January, unlikely before the Winter Session beginning December 8. Regional considerations and upcoming local body elections, particularly in Bengaluru, will influence the final selections.
Competition heats up for ministerial positions
Recent days have seen senior Congress leaders and first-time MLAs arriving in Delhi to press their claims for Cabinet positions. B K Hariprasad, the AICC in-charge for Haryana, leads the list of aspirants alongside MLAs H C Balakrishna, Iqbal Hussain, Sharath Bache Gowda, and Nayana Motamma. Former Deputy CM Laxman Savadi, who joined Congress before the 2023 Assembly polls, and former ministers T B Jayachandra, Basavaraj Raya Reddy, and R V Deshpande are also seeking berths. First-time MLAs including Siddaramaiah's legal advisor A S Ponnanna argue they deserve opportunities similar to ministers Priyank Kharge and Krishna Byre Gowda, who received portfolios after their first electoral victories. Among 28 first-time MLAs in the party, competition remains intense for the available positions.
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