Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday met AICC President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, at his residence in Sadashivanagar, Bengaluru, amid uncertainty over the much-anticipated expansion of the State Cabinet and an impending organisational overhaul within the Congress party.
Deputy Chief Minister, G. Parameshwara, was also present during the meeting.
According to party insiders, Shivakumar briefed Kharge on the series of meetings held in New Delhi with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other senior national leaders regarding the Cabinet expansion.
The discussions assume significance as the Congress high command is yet to take a final call on inducting new ministers into the Karnataka Cabinet.
The Congress government is currently functioning with 14 ministers, including Chief Minister Shivakumar, leaving 20 Cabinet positions vacant. More than 40 senior leaders are said to be vying for ministerial berths, turning the exercise into a complex balancing act involving regional representation, caste equations, seniority, and political considerations.
The delay has prolonged the wait for aspirants, many of whom had camped in Delhi in anticipation of an announcement. However, party leaders remain optimistic that the high command will arrive at a decision after completing consultations with all stakeholders.
The Cabinet expansion was put on hold on Thursday after the Congress leadership deferred a final decision following Kharge's unexpected departure to Bengaluru.
A series of high-level meetings in New Delhi involving Chief Minister Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad failed to produce a consensus. The trio met Rahul Gandhi in the presence of Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at her residence in the national Capital.
The meeting was attended by AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, and Karnataka Energy Minister K.J. George.
Meanwhile, the Congress is preparing for a major organisational reshuffle in Karnataka. Party insiders said the high command has decided to replace all district Congress presidents across the State in a first-of-its-kind exercise.
AICC observers are expected to visit every district to gather feedback before finalising appointments. Sources said the leadership has decided not to be influenced by local power centres and instead intends to provide opportunities to loyal party workers.
Following the appointment of new district presidents, the process of restructuring the party organisation will continue with changes to the posts of vice presidents and state general secretaries.
The initiative, reportedly undertaken after B.K. Hariprasad assumed charge as KPCC president, marks a departure from the earlier practice where MLAs, in coordination with the KPCC leadership, played a significant role in deciding district presidents.
In another significant development, AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal is scheduled to visit Bengaluru on July 26 and hold meetings with Chief Minister Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. The discussions are expected to focus on both the Cabinet expansion and the organisational restructuring, which are likely to shape the Congress party's political strategy in Karnataka ahead of future electoral battles.
--IANS
