Overview
- Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi, but discussions on a cabinet reshuffle remained inconclusive with the final call left to the high command.
- Siddaramaiah said Delhi had sought a reshuffle months ago and noted the government hits its halfway mark on November 20, a juncture long linked to leadership speculation.
- Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar downplayed talk of a leadership change and, according to those close to him, opposes a broad reshuffle though he is not against filling the two vacancies.
- Several Congress legislators publicly pressed for induction, including Vijayanand Kashappanavar and Abbayya Prasad, as two cabinet seats remain open after B. Nagendra’s resignation and K.N. Rajanna’s removal.
- Opposition leader R. Ashoka claimed a change of chief minister is likely and argued a reshuffle would sideline Shivakumar, while the BJP criticized the Congress for focusing on internal jockeying over governance issues.