Cabinet reshuffle likely in late December or January

Bengaluru

As the Congress-led government completes two and a half years, the party is now preparing for a cabinet reshuffle. Sources told blrpost.com that the rejig is likely in the last week of December or the first week of January.

Chief Minister (CM) Siddaramaiah has already deliberated on the issue with the party high command and may hold another round of meetings. The state is currently abuzz with talk of a change of CM, but a highly placed source said, “Rahul Gandhi is not interested in handing over the baton to D K Shivakumar at this juncture. Gandhi has categorically stated that he prefers Siddaramaiah to continue at the top.”

While the Shivakumar camp is going all out to convince the high command, Siddaramaiah is preparing for the reshuffle. The CM’s positive body language is also strongly visible in most of his media interactions. The source said Shivakumar has to be a little patient, and any misadventure may permanently shut the doors on his chances of becoming CM.

M B Maramkal, former Times of India journalist and political analyst speaking to this news website, said, “The high command has become weak after the debacle in the Bihar polls. The party leadership will not take any decision that may jeopardise the party’s prospects in Karnataka.”

Aspirations

Many MLAs are aspiring to become ministers, and some of them are very young. The source said lobbying has already begun in political corridors to secure cabinet berths.

Discussions in Siddaramaiah’s camp are already underway on inducting new faces, changing portfolios, and showing the door to a few. This is expected to continue until the middle of December. Once the names are finalised, they will be sent to the high command for approval.

The source said Shivakumar, instead of focusing on the top chair, must work on placing his men in the right positions in the cabinet. This may help him achieve his aspirations in the near future.