Will Karnataka get a new CM? D K Shivakumar's ambitions in focus amid reports of Cabinet reshuffle

With Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself confirming that a Cabinet reshuffle is looming, speculations are rife over whether the state will get a new Chief Minister. During a public meeting on Saturday, the Chief Minister said the decision for a rejig was taken earlier, and the “time has now come”.

While the big question is about whether the veteran leader would finally make way for current Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to take over, Siddharamaiah’s tactical response is giving hints that he wouldn’t, after all, be stepping down.

On Saturday, Siddaramaiah attended the Kittur Utsav, defying a superstition that whoever  attends the ceremony would lose their post. He had attended the event last year too. “I was here last year when we marked the 200th anniversary of Rani Channamma's victory," the CM said, hinting that he would attend it the next year too. Many interpret the CM’s statement that he has no plans to hand over the post to his Deputy.

But, according to local media reports, Shivakumar might exert pressure on the High Command.

There were reports that when the Congress won the state assembly elections in 2023, the  party high command had reached an agreement on the chief minister's post on sharing the post with Siddaramaiah and strongman D K Shivakumar. However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has denied this.

However, Siddaramaiah’s camp is giving out not-so-subtle hints. Recently, the CM’s son and Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah stirred a political furore by naming Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi as a possible successor to his father. However, both Siddaramaiah and Yathindra quickly clarified that the statement was meant only ideologically, and Siddaramaiah will continue as the CM for the full five-year term.

Big changes

Around 12 to 15 senior ministers will be assigned to the party organisation, and new faces will be given ministerial berths, according to Kannada Prabha. Political games are also active after some ministers who are close associates of Siddaramaiah stated that they are ready to sacrifice their ministerial positions if Siddaramaiah continues as Chief Minister.

Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan has come out stating he is ready to resign to help Siddaramaiah, while the report hinted that Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao is also likely to resign from the ministerial post.