The much-awaited call from New Delhi to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar summoning them for a meeting with the Congress high command on Tuesday (May 26) set off speculation over the possibility of a leadership change or a Cabinet reshuffle. However, the party’s General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala insisted that the meeting was to discuss the impending elections to the Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Council.

The Congress government in Karnataka celebrated completion of three years in office last week.

What is on agenda?

Confusion over the agenda of the meeting intensified despite Mr. Surjewala’s statement and his appeal for a thaw in speculation since Rajya Sabha elections had been notified. The Chief Minister, while confirming the call from Congress General Secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, said that he was not aware of the agenda and he would be attending the meeting on Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Mr. Shivakumar, who had maintained in the morning that he would go to New Delhi only if called, confirmed in the afternoon that he had been summoned too. “When the party calls, I have to go,” he had said initially. Asked if the leadership issue would be discussed, he said, “I don’t know, and I do not want to comment on it.” Later in the day, he said he would go to Delhi as Special Intensive Revision (SIR), among other things, is on the agenda. He flew to Delhi on Monday (May 25) night.

Elections to Rajya Sabha are scheduled for June 18. Congress is likely to win three out of the four seats that will fall vacant in Karnataka. Congress President Mallikarjun M. Kharge, who is among those retiring, refused to comment about the agenda. 

Sources close to the Chief Minister said that the meeting follows his earlier request to discuss a Cabinet reshuffle. It is learnt that he had sought a meeting with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi when he met him during the swearing-in ceremony of Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.

Interestingly, while the Chief Minister’s camp is pushing for the Cabinet reshuffle, which is speculated to cement his place, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Monday (May 25) reassigned the Planning and Statistics department to K. Venkatesh, the Animal Husbandry and Sericulture Minister. D. Sudhakar, who had held the portfolio, passed away recently.

“If the Chief Minister is seeking a Cabinet reshuffle, why would he re-assign the portfolio now? The portfolio does not require immediate attention. Also, why would he take Ministers to Delhi when he is called for a meeting by the Congress high command?” a source questioned.

Supporters in tow

Adding to the political drama was Chief Minister Siddaramaiah taking an entourage of Ministers seen to be favourable to him on Monday (May 25) night. Many from the D.K. Shivakumar camp are also said to be in the national capital.

Among them were Home Minister G. Parameshwara, Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh, Energy Minister K.J. George, and Industries Minister M.B. Patil. Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who also counts Mr. Siddaramaiah as his leader in the AHINDA camp, flew independently to New Delhi. Several other Ministers and legislators are learnt to have also gone to Delhi. Mr. Shivakumar’s brother D.K. Suresh is also in Delhi.

Despite accompanying the Chief Minister, among many others, Dr. Parameshwara told presspersons, “We are not aware of the agenda but we are going with the Chief Minister. We will know the agenda when we go there.”

Many be dropped?

He indicated that Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections are likely to be discussed along with Cabinet reshuffle. Sources close to the Chief Minister indicated that 10 to 12 Cabinet Ministers are likely to be dropped over performance, caste, and regional combination factors. Legislators aspiring for a Cabinet berth are likely to go to New Delhi after the Chief Minister’s visit, sources said. The Chief Minister has been pushing for a Cabinet reshuffle for the past six months.

One of the senior legislators aspiring to join the Cabinet said that it was a “crucial time” for the party to take decisions since the next Assembly election is less than two years away. “Hopefully, the meeting would end all speculations and focus could move on to governance,” he said.

Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar on Delhi meet amid RS & MLC talks

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he has been invited to New Delhi for a meeting on May 26 at 11 a.m. by K. C. Venugopal and added that he was unaware of the agenda of the discussion. Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar said that whenever the party calls, he would go, while responding to discussions around Rajya Sabha and MLC-related meetings with the Congress high command in New Delhi. | Video Credit: The Hindu