Discussions are intensifying around a potential reshuffle of the Karnataka Cabinet. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly informed senior Ministers that this significant change is likely to occur in the final week of November or early December, urging them to be “mentally prepared” for the impending adjustments.
During a private dinner hosted for his Cabinet colleagues on Monday night, the Chief Minister is understood to have instructed senior Ministers to get ready to assume broader responsibilities within the party’s organizational structure. Sources indicate that the Congress high command has concluded its performance review of the State government, concluding that a reshuffle is essential to introduce fresh faces, especially as the administration approaches its two-and-a-half-year mark.
While some Ministers may be removed from their current portfolios, Mr. Siddaramaiah has assured them that those stepping down will be treated respectfully and entrusted with crucial organizational roles within the party. The high command, according to sources, is keen on restructuring the Cabinet and possesses a detailed ‘report card’ evaluating each Minister’s performance, which could inform immediate directives.
Beyond governmental duties, Mr. Siddaramaiah emphasized the critical need to bolster the party’s organization in anticipation of upcoming civic and panchayat elections, as well as the 2028 Assembly polls. He reportedly stated, “The Congress must solidify its position at every level to secure victory in the zilla panchayat, taluk panchayat, and Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections.”
Groundwork Begins for Local Body Elections
Elections for the five newly established municipal corporations under the GBA, alongside zilla and taluk panchayats, are anticipated in February or March. The Chief Minister has reportedly directed Ministers to commence preliminary work immediately, noting that these local body elections have been long overdue and winning all five new corporations will present a considerable challenge.
A Call to ‘Counter Opposition’ Aggressively
The Chief Minister delivered a firm message to his colleagues, urging them to actively defend the government and robustly counter criticism from the Opposition. Sources suggest he expressed disappointment that only a handful of Ministers were effectively responding to these attacks.
“The Opposition consistently criticizes the government without valid reason, yet most Ministers remain silent. You must vigorously defend the government’s policies and accomplishments, including our stance on the RSS, and respond forcefully to the Opposition,” a Minister quoted him as saying. He highlighted that leaders from the BJP and JD(S) were spreading “false allegations” against the government, with too few Ministers stepping up to challenge them.
CM Expresses Displeasure Over Leadership Change Speculation
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also reportedly conveyed his displeasure regarding some Ministers making public statements about a potential change in leadership. “Despite repeated instructions from the party in-charge, the KPCC president, and myself, some are still speaking out. This is not right,” he is said to have remarked.
Sources noted that with a combined tenure of seven-and-a-half years as Chief Minister, including his previous term, Mr. Siddaramaiah is set to surpass D. Devaraj Urs as Karnataka’s longest-serving Chief Minister. Any future leadership transition, they added, would ultimately be at his own discretion.