“Not the right time,” says Shivakumar as MLAs step up pressure on AICC for Cabinet revamp

Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Monday expressed his displeasure over a group of about 25 Congress MLAs flying to Delhi to lobby with the AICC leadership for ministerial positions.

Shivakumar, who is also the president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), told the media that there was nothing wrong in asking the high command for a minister post. “But this is not the right time. Elections are still going on. Some have gone to Tamil Nadu. Let the elections happen first, then we can think about this," he said, conveying his disapproval of the Delhi trip by some MLAs.

His comments come in sharp contrast to chief minister Siddaramaiah’s view that there was nothing wrong in MLAs visiting Delhi.


The KPCC president added that some MLAs did consult him before flying to Delhi, but issued a stern warning that any unnecessary public statement would invite disciplinary action.

Senior MLA AR Krishnamurthy, speaking to the media in Delhi, said senior MLAs want a cabinet reshuffle. They have decided to meet Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, RS Surjewala, and KC Venugopal. There was an assurance from the party that there would be a cabinet revamp after two and a half years, and hence they were pursuing it.

The Siddaramaiah government will complete three years next month.

The CM had been postponing the exercise as the party leadership was preoccupied with one election or the other. The Cabinet berth aspirants believe this is the right time to step up pressure for a Cabinet recast as bypolls in the state are over.

Sources say Shivakumar was not keen on a cabinet reshuffle as that would mean an end to his chief ministerial ambitions over the next two years.