Factionalism in Congress deepens as cabinet rejig takes a back seat

Bengaluru: Expectations of an immediate cabinet reshuffle have been dashed as chief minister Siddaramaiah turns his attention to budget preparation and an upcoming cycle of elections, extending the wait for ministerial aspirants in governing Congress. With the joint session of the legislature concluding Wednesday, several Congress MLAs had anticipated a reshuffle. However, Siddaramaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio, has begun department-wise meetings ahead of the budget, signalling that the exercise will be deferred.
"The focus now is on preparing the budget as the objective is to present a growth-oriented and pro-people budget. The CM will take a call on other issues at an appropriate time," said Basavaraj Rayareddi, economic adviser to the CM. Congress' high command had, in May 2023, reportedly outlined a formula to rotate ministerial opportunities among the party's 140 MLAs after it formed the govt. Siddaramaiah filled all 34 cabinet positions with the understanding that the first set of ministers would be replaced after the govt crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term in Nov 2024. However, the reshuffle did not materialise amid uncertainty over a reported arrangement that Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar would share the CM post. The delay was further compounded by the Belagavi session in Dec. Though MLAs were assured that a reshuffle would follow this week's joint session, no announcement on cabinet changes has been made. Siddaramaiah is expected to present his 17th budget — a record — on March 6, with the budget session likely to continue until the end of the month. This will be followed by the announcement of bypolls to Bagalkot and Davanagere South assembly seats, to be held alongside assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, West Bengal and Assam in April. In addition, elections to five city corporations under the newly formed Greater Bengaluru Authority are expected in May, while polls to zilla panchayats, taluk panchayats and gram panchayats — pending for several years — are also due. With elections expected to stretch through the year and the Congress high command yet to resolve the CM post dispute, a cabinet reshuffle has taken a back seat. Some senior functionaries are sceptical about it taking place anytime soon. "The CM said that he wanted to reshuffle the cabinet in Nov last year and the delay has obviously led to a certain degree of uncertainty," said former minister and senior Congress MLA RV Deshpande. "Having said that, it is the prerogative of the CM to structure and restructure the cabinet in consultation with the high command." The prolonged uncertainty has left many legislators restive, with some expressing frustration. "Party brass had a clear plan to rotate opportunities among legislators and take a call on the tenure of ministers based on their performance. I hope that it will happen soon," Meanwhile, camp politics has intensified, with MLAs holding group meetings to discuss the next course of action. Gatherings of legislators from the politically dominant Lingayat community have drawn attention, while Dalit members have continued to press their demands. Scheduled Tribe legislators, led by PWD minister Satish Jarkiholi, are seeking to fill two vacancies created by the resignations of B Nagendra and KN Rajanna. However, some younger MLAs remain optimistic. "It may take time, but a cabinet reshuffle will definitely happen and those who have been left out will get an opportunity. We have complete trust in the CM, DCM and high command," said Arshad Rizwan, Shivajinagar MLA.