Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to travel to Delhi on November 15, a visit that has ignited discussions about a potential reshuffle within the State Cabinet.
When questioned by reporters about the impending changes to his Ministry, which is nearing its two-and-a-half-year mark, Mr. Siddaramaiah indicated that he would consult with Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and M. Mallikarjun Kharge, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) President, following the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
Addressing persistent media inquiries at Mysuru airport on November 3 regarding a leadership change, particularly statements from Bihar leaders suggesting Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar might become Chief Minister, Mr. Siddaramaiah expressed his exasperation.
“Don’t you have anything else to ask?” he retorted, emphasizing that decisions about leadership rest solely with the party’s High Command. He firmly stated, “It is meaningless if anyone else discusses it.”
Bihar Elections: A Congress Perspective
Beyond Karnataka’s internal politics, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah conveyed his strong belief in the INDIA bloc’s victory in the Bihar Assembly elections. Although he hasn’t received a formal invitation to campaign in the state, he confirmed his willingness to do so if requested.
He highlighted the significant number of Bihari residents working in Bengaluru, suggesting that Congress leaders would appeal to them to cast their votes for the INDIA bloc.
When pressed for reasons behind his optimism, Mr. Siddaramaiah pointed to the current Bihar government, led by Nitish Kumar, as suffering from considerable ‘anti-incumbency,’ alongside allegations of ‘BJP’s corruption and maladministration.’
The Chief Minister also drew parallels with Karnataka’s welfare initiatives, citing his government’s scheme providing ₹2,000 monthly to 1.24 crore women. He proudly noted, “So far, we have spent more than ₹1 lakh crore on guarantee schemes.”
He dismissed the likelihood of voters favoring Nitish Kumar again, characterizing the Bihar CM as lacking a clear ideology. “He will align with BJP, Congress, or Lalu Prasad Yadav,” Siddaramaiah remarked.
Finally, Mr. Siddaramaiah underscored the pervasive poverty in Bihar, expressing confidence that marginalized communities—the poor, backward classes, minorities, and Dalits—would rally behind the Congress party in the upcoming elections.