Siddaramaiah to ministers: Some have to go

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hinted at a few ministers being dropped in a Cabinet reshuffle at a meeting of the Council of Ministers here on Wednesday.

Sources said Mr Siddaramaiah will leave for Delhi on Thursday at 2 pm and is likely to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi at 11 am on Friday to discuss the reshuffle.

While complimenting the ministers for doing good work during the last three years, he reportedly indicated that some of them would have to be content with doing party work in future.

“You have done good work in your departments. But as the next election is just two years away, there will be a minor reshuffle. Some of you will be involved in the party organisation,” Mr Siddaramaiah was quoted as saying.

He however, did not elaborate how big or small the shake-up would be, leaving everyone guessing about who could be inducted or dropped.

Reshuffle now or by July end? Uncertainty persists
Three years into his government and less than two years before the next Assembly elections,  Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has clearly made up his mind about reshuffing his Cabinet, but will he be able to pull it off any time soon?

While he is said to have the backing of AICC general secretary, Digvijay Singh,  many believe it may not be possible to carry out the reshuffle till the end of July owing to the schedule of Congress president  Sonia Gandhi, who is expected to return from Shimla  on Wednesday and then fly out of  India for three weeks on Friday.

“I am not sure if Mr Singh has taken her permission for the reshuffle and even if he has, he has to consult her by Wednesday evening and then Mr Siddaramaiah has to both get an appointment with her and her approval on Thursday. Otherwise, it could be postponed for three weeks. By the time she returns, the state legislature could begin its monsoon session, which means the reshuffle may take place only by the end of July,'' said a senior Congress leader .

Some leaders, meanwhile, remain sceptical about a Cabinet reshuffle taking place. KPCC president, Dr G Parameshwar claims he is not aware of any such move. Another senior minister also says  he is not sure  a Cabinet reshuffle will take place. “I know that Mr Digvijay Singh has approved it, but it has to be discussed at various levels. Apart from the AICC general secretary, senior leaders  like  Mallikarjun Kharge, Oscar Fernandes and  Veerappa Moily will also have be consulted,'' he said.

But going by sources  the  high is planning an overhaul of the party organisation, including appointing a new KPCC chief, by the end of July.  IT and BT minister, S R Patil  and energy minister, D.K. Shivakumar, are favourites for the coveted post.