Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar Denies Cabinet Reshuffle Rumours

When D K Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka took the podium in Bengaluru on October 11, 2024, he was adamant: the talk of a cabinet reshuffle was "just a rumour". "There is no proposal to reshuffle the cabinet. Either the CM or I should propose it. When neither of us has, it is only rumour," he said, adding that anyone spreading the story was trying to "create confusion". The denial came just as whispers grew louder that Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka and his allies were nudging the party high command toward a change.

Background to the Rumour

Karnataka’s Congress government entered office in May 2023 after a hard‑fought election. The party allotted 34 ministerial berths, but two seats sit empty after the resignation of B Nagendra (Backward Classes Welfare) amid an embezzlement probe and the dismissal of K N Rajanna on instruction from the party’s top brass. As the administration approaches the halfway mark of its five‑year term – colloquially dubbed the "November revolution" – opposition parties and some media outlets began speculating that a mid‑term cabinet shake‑up was imminent.

The Deputy Chief Minister’s Refutation

During a press interaction, Shivakumar stressed that any reshuffle would have to come from the top. "Some people are in urgency (to become ministers). If their names appear in the media, they will go door‑to‑door of leaders. There is no chance for it. Everything will be decided by the high command," he explained. He also noted that no formal petition had reached him or Siddaramaiah, implying that the rumor mill was being fed by “those who are in a hurry to secure power.” The deputy’s comments were rounded off with a warning to party loyalists: “When the high command decides, we will follow.”

Chief Minister’s Position and Supporters

While Shivakumar dismissed the chatter, sources close to Siddaramaiah claim the chief minister is quietly weighing options. His son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, a member of the Legislative Council, along with Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan and Small‑Scale Industries Minister Sharanbasappa Darshanapur, have reportedly voiced support for a reshuffle. Siddaramaiah himself brushed off the connection between his scheduled dinner on October 14, 2024, and any cabinet moves, insisting the gathering was “just a normal dinner for Congress MLAs.” He added, "Listening to the BJP, you (media) have made our meeting over dinner an offence. Why are you asking then? We keep meeting always," during remarks in Bagalkote.

Vacancies and Recent Dismissals

The two vacant ministries have become a focal point for aspiring legislators. B Nagendra stepped down after allegations that he misappropriated funds at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation. Earlier, K N Rajanna was removed on the directive of the party high command following internal disagreements. The open slots have fueled speculation that the reshuffle could be used to placate restless members and strengthen the party’s grassroots machinery ahead of upcoming local body polls.

Internal Party Dynamics and Power‑Share Talk

Behind the public statements lies a longer‑running power‑sharing narrative. When the Congress formed the state government in 2023, senior leaders reportedly brokered a pact that Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar would each hold the chief minister’s chair for half of the legislative term. That understanding has been cited by analysts as the root of current tensions. Senior Congress stalwart and MLC Saleem Ahmed, who boasts 43 years of service to the party, publicly contradicted Shivakumar’s denial. Speaking in Haveri, Ahmed said the party was mulling a reshuffle after the Bihar Assembly election, noting, "Some ministers may be dropped to focus on strengthening the party organisation, while new party leaders could be considered for the ministerial positions." He also hinted at his own disappointment: "When the Congress government was formed in Karnataka in 2023, I should have been included in the state cabinet, but my name was dropped at the last minute. I am confident I will get an opportunity during the upcoming cabinet reshuffle."

What Analysts Say

Political commentators argue that any move by Siddaramaiah to alter the cabinet would send a clear signal that he intends to complete his full term, thereby marginalising Shivakumar’s ambitions. "A reshuffle now could be a strategic play to solidify the CM’s authority before the mid‑term elections," says Dr. Ramesh Kulkarni, a senior fellow at the Centre for Indian Politics. Others caution that premature changes could deepen factional rifts, especially with the upcoming taluk, zilla panchayat and urban local body elections where Congress hopes to retain its foothold.

Key Facts

• Date of Shivakumar’s denial: October 11, 2024.
• Location of the statement: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Two vacant ministries: Backward Classes Welfare and an undisclosed portfolio.
• Potential reshuffle timeline: After Bihar Assembly elections (late October 2024) – according to senior MLC Sale Ahmed.
• Power‑share pact: Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar allegedly agreed to split the chief minister’s term.