Ministerial aspirants face uncertainty over cabinet reshuffle

Bengaluru: Although rumours and speculation suggests chief minister Siddaramaiah's council of ministers will be reshuffled in the next couple of months — around the time Congress completes two years in office on May 13 — the exercise of dropping "non-performers" and inducting fresh faces is likely to be a contentious affair.
While senior Congress functionaries say a reshuffle will only happen when the party high command provides clarity on a change — or status quo — at the helm in the state, the Siddaramaiah-DK Shivakumar-led govt faces a crisis in keeping experienced legislators, former ministers, and community leaders "happy", especially given Congress' brute majority of 136 MLAs.
"What we have been given to understand is that the party, though unhappy with the performance of the govt due to allegations of graft and poor delivery of promises, is not in a position to influence a cabinet reshuffle now given strong factional forces within," said one aspirant.
Sources say both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have been "warned" to pull up their socks, ensure unity in the state unit and deliver on all promises made during the election campaign in 2023. But some also say Siddaramaiah had put his foot down on retaining ministers seen as close to him and is not ready to "dilute" his authority by bringing in new faces.
"Given the situation, the high command may decide on a complete top-down overhaul," said another Congress functionary, indicating that the time frame for this is between Oct-Nov. "For now, few strong members in the cabinet have backed Siddaramaiah and are expected to continue without any hindrance at least till he continues to be the CM."
Nonetheless, hope floats within party ranks that the state brass may consider a "minor" shuffle by dropping two or three ministers just to show some "change" in governance. "In May, our govt will complete two years and we expect a cabinet reshuffle. If it does happen, then I am hopeful of being a part of this change," said MLC Saleem Ahmed.