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Bengaluru, October 9 (IANS) Amid talk of leadership change and a possible cabinet reshuffle, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has hosted a dinner for Congress MLAs in Bengaluru on October 13. Sources gave this information.
Sources close to the Chief Minister said that this reshuffle will take place after the Bihar elections.
Siddaramaiah also aims to send a strong message through the dinner meeting that there will be no change in the leadership.
The Chief Minister has already spoken to AICC general secretary and Congress MP KC Venugopal during his recent visit to Bengaluru and claimed that he will also discuss the matter with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
According to sources, Siddaramaiah is considering removing 15 ministers and inducting new faces into the cabinet. He has discussed this plan with Venugopal.
Earlier, when the high command had asked him to remove eight to 10 ministers, Siddaramaiah had reportedly disagreed.
According to party sources, his strategy is to make a major reshuffle to indicate that there will be no change in the post of Chief Minister.
Speaking at the Valmiki Jayanti celebrations, Siddaramaiah also assured that a leader from the Valmiki community will be given a ministerial berth during the reshuffle.
Reacting to these developments, Home Minister G Parameshwara said in Bengaluru on Thursday, “The decision about the Cabinet reshuffle will be taken at the high command level. I don’t know from where these rumors are spreading. Who has given such statements about the reshuffle? The Chief Minister has not given any timeline for it.”
Parameshwara said that there is a demand from the Valmiki community for representation on ministerial posts, but the final decision will be taken by the high command.
Meanwhile, sources said the camp of Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president DK Shivakumar is expecting a possible leadership change in November.
They are citing the power-sharing agreement under which Siddaramaiah is expected to step down after completing half his term.
MLAs from Shivakumar’s camp have already given public statements to this effect.
On the other hand, Siddaramaiah is said to be using the cabinet reshuffle as a strategy to counter such claims.
–IANS
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