Karnataka Congress leaders expect decision on leadership change in May
Ministerial aspirants and Congress leaders in Karnataka are expecting a decision on Cabinet reshuffle and possible leadership change in May, amid growing speculation and pressure within the party for clarity on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s tenure and D K Shivakumar’s role
Bengaluru: Ministerial aspirants demanding a Cabinet reshuffle and members of the ruling Congress eager to see Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar as CM of Karnataka, amid expectations of a leadership change, are hoping for “happy” or “sweet news” sometime next month.
The development comes amid speculation within the party and political circles about a possible decision on leadership change and a Cabinet reshuffle after May 4, once the results of the Assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory, along with bypolls to two Assembly segments in Karnataka, are announced.
Senior Congress MLA and Chief Whip in the Legislative Assembly, Ashoka Pattan, who was among a group of legislators that went to New Delhi earlier this month to demand a Cabinet reshuffle from the Congress high command, said AICC General Secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, assured them of “sweet news” by the second or third week of May.
“When we (senior Congress MLAs) went to Delhi earlier this month, Surjewala told us that the party would give us ‘sweet news’ by the second or third week of May. We also met our party president, Mallikarjun Kharge, and he assured us that he would discuss our matter with Rahul Gandhi,” Pattan, considered a close confidant of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, told reporters here.
Noting that the results of the Assembly polls in four states and one Union Territory will be declared on May 4, he said, “MLAs are pressuring us to call a meeting of like-minded legislators before the results. We are discussing about 40 of us going to Delhi after the results; we have not decided on the dates.”
“But after the results, around 40 of us will definitely go by the second week and demand a Cabinet reshuffle,” he added.
According to party sources, while Siddaramaiah favours a Cabinet reshuffle, Shivakumar wants the party to decide on the leadership change first.
According to several party insiders, if the Congress high command approves a Cabinet reshuffle, it would signal that incumbent CM Siddaramaiah will complete his full five-year term, thereby scuttling Shivakumar’s chances of occupying the coveted post.
H D Ranganath, Congress MLA from Kunigal and close to the Deputy Chief Minister, expressed hope that the Congress high command will give Shivakumar appropriate recognition for his hard work. “May 15 is Shivakumar’s birthday, and many party workers, including me, desire that he gets ‘happy news’,” he said.
“Shivakumar has worked hard for the party, and everyone is aware of it. Many, including me, believe he should get an appropriate position for his efforts. We expect the high command to decide in this regard in the days ahead. We hope the party will take appropriate decisions at the appropriate time,” he added.
Amid speculation, Shivakumar said on Sunday that both he and CM Siddaramaiah will abide by whatever the Congress high command decides on the leadership issue in the state.
Not wanting to reveal details of his political discussions with the party leadership, Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president, said upon his return from a visit to the national capital that he has faith in the high command and that it will decide at the appropriate time.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of CM after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.
The speculation has been fuelled by the reported “power-sharing” arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
Meanwhile, a delegation of swamijis led by Pranavananda Swamiji, president of the forum of heads of most backward class maths, who urged the Congress high command on Sunday to immediately appoint Shivakumar as CM of Karnataka, met him at his residence on Monday.
Reiterating his demand, Pranavananda Swamiji told reporters after the meeting that about 20 swamijis, including him, will soon travel to Delhi to meet AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal and possibly AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi to put forward their demand.
He also urged Shivakumar to take a “bold step”. “This is insulting, why is Congress not taking a decision to make Shivakumar CM? Shivakumar also has MLAs with him,” he said, adding that they will request a “birthday gift” for Shivakumar from the party.
There are also reports that some senior ministers considered close to Siddaramaiah, such as Satish Jarkiholi, are in Delhi and are likely to meet the Congress leadership.
