NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing power tussle in Karnataka over the chief ministerial post, sources within the Congress have indicated that a major reshuffle is on the cards, with nearly a dozen ministers likely to be dropped in the coming days.
The Congress stormed to power in Karnataka by winning 135 seats—its highest tally since 1989. However, uncertainty persists over the “two-and-a-half-year” formula for the Chief Minister’s post. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has repeatedly clarified that he intends to complete his full five-year term, despite murmurs that Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president DK Shivakumar is eyeing the top job.
Amid this leadership tussle, party insiders revealed that the Congress is planning a significant overhaul of the state cabinet under the Kamraj model a strategy from the 1960s designed to rejuvenate leadership ranks by replacing long-serving ministers with new faces.
According to senior party sources, the plan aims to remove ministers who have served multiple terms or whose performance has been found lacking. The Kamraj model emphasizes giving opportunities to younger leaders while assigning organizational roles to senior figures relieved of ministerial responsibilities.
Names reportedly on the potential drop list include Dinesh Gundu Rao, HC Mahadevappa, Shivanand Patil, Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, Rahim Khan, SS Mallikarjun, Thimmappur Ramappa Balappa, K Venkatesh, and Tangadagi Shivaraj Sangappa, among others.
While several Congress leaders have publicly denied that any reshuffle is imminent, internal sources confirm that discussions are well underway. The reconstitution is expected to balance caste and community representation, with fresh faces likely to be inducted. Among the hopefuls is Saleem Ahmed, a party loyalist and chief whip in the Legislative Council, who began his political journey with the NSUI.
Sources further disclosed that both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have submitted performance “report cards” of ministers to the party high command. Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala also gathered feedback from MLAs last month, which has now been submitted to the central leadership.
Two cabinet berths are already vacant following the resignation of B Nagendra and the dismissal of KN Rajanna for his controversial remarks on Rahul Gandhi’s “vote chori” campaign.
The reshuffle is expected to take place after the Bihar poll results are announced. Rahul Gandhi is also scheduled to visit Karnataka soon and will hold detailed discussions with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to finalise the transition plan aimed at grooming the next generation of state leaders.
