Bengaluru: The series of dinner meetings among Congress legislators in Karnataka shows no signs of stopping, even as speculation about a cabinet reshuffle intensifies. Despite Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s trip to Delhi, dinner meetings for MLAs have persisted, with the latest gathering held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bengaluru. This marks the first and second such meetings for newly elected legislators, following several gatherings of senior MLAs last week.
During these meetings, discussions have focused on the allocation of ministerial positions, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah meeting with 16 Congress MLAs prior to the assembly. These legislators have urged the Chief Minister to consider at least 20 senior MLAs for cabinet positions. Notable figures such as N.A. Harris, H.M. Revanna, and Ashok Pattan have joined the call, emphasizing their long-standing service and requesting opportunities for new faces in the cabinet.
Following the upcoming by-elections, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has assured that a cabinet reshuffle will take place. After a meeting with the Chief Minister, MLA H.C. Balakrishna stated that he would communicate with the high command regarding the reshuffle. The Chief Minister has indicated that the reshuffle will occur after two years, with the expectation that 20 new faces will be included.
In a related development, a dinner meeting was also held with 16 ministers at the Chief Minister’s residence, Kaveri. This meeting included Minister Jamir Ahmed and Ramalinga Reddy, among others.
Meanwhile, D.K. Shivakumar and other ministers are currently in Delhi for discussions on the state’s irrigation projects, including the Mekedatu drinking water project and the Krishna and Bhadravati lift irrigation schemes. Additionally, Congress leaders from the ST community are set to meet Rahul Gandhi, with expectations of clarifying previous statements regarding vote manipulation. As the cabinet reshuffle looms, pressure from ministerial aspirants on the Chief Minister continues to mount.
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