Followers of CM, DKS, Kharge unite for Cabinet reshuffle

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

In a politically significant development, around 27 senior Congress MLAs from Karnataka, considered close to the party’s top leadership, came together in Bengaluru on Thursday and held a meeting at the Bowring Institute to press for a cabinet reshuffle and seek ministerial berths.

The legislators are expected to first meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and DCM D.K. Shivakumar before taking their demand to the party high command in New Delhi soon.The group is being coordinated by N.A. Haris, who is seen as close to DCM. The coming together of leaders identified with different power centres within the party has drawn attention in political circles.

Among those involved in the discussions are Basavaraj Neelappa Shivannanavar, Ganesh Prakash Hukkeri, M.Y. Patil, U.B. Banakar, C. Puttarangashetty, S.N. Subbareddy, Ashok Pattan, T.B. Jayachandra, Laxman Savadi, Yashwanth Rayareddy, S.R. Srinivas, Shivannanavar, J.T. Patil, G.S. Patil, H.C. Balakrishna, K. Shadakshari, Hampanagouda Badarli, Belur Gopalkrishna, S.N. Narayanaswamy, B.G. Govindappa, Yashavanta Patil and Prasad Abbayya, among others.

Notably, several influential leaders considered close to the party’s top leadership are part of the group, Ashok Pattan and Narayanaswamy are seen as close to CM Siddaramaiah, Balakrishna is considered close to DCM, while Prasad Abbayya is regarded as close to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge. Their coming together has added political weight to the demand.

Several MLAs said a cabinet reshuffle is the need of the hour, arguing that more senior legislators should be given the opportunity to shoulder responsibility in the government and serve the people of Karnataka. The group is expected to urge the high command to honour earlier assurances regarding cabinet expansion.

“Many senior legislators have worked for decades to strengthen the party and deserve an opportunity to take responsibility in the government,” a leader said.