No cabinet reshuffle, Congress will win 15-20 Lok Sabha seats: Chief minister Siddaramaiah

BENGALURU: Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday categorically ruled out any cabinet reshuffle immediately after the Lok Sabha election results, irrespective of Congress' performance, while also exuding confidence that his party would win between 15 and 20 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Marking his first year in office, Siddaramaiah dismissed speculation that ministers failing to ensure victory of the party candidate for the seat assigned to them would be removed from the cabinet.

"As of now, there is no proposal to expand or reshuffle the cabinet. We will abide by the decision of the party high command," he clarified.

Speaking about Congress' prospects in the Lok Sabha polls, he added: "Despite BJP's misinformation campaign, our guarantees have won hearts over. We don't lie like [former CM] Yediyurappa, who claims BJP will win all 28 seats in the state."

The CM dismissed speculation that the five guarantee schemes would be discontinued after the LS elections.

₹52,090cr for schemes
For no reason will we discontinue these guarantee schemes. We have set aside Rs 52,090 crore for these schemes in the budget," he said.

Responding to BJP's claim that all development works in the state have stalled due to the sheer financial burden of the guarantee schemes, Siddaramaiah said capital expenditure in 2023-24 rose from Rs 54,374 crore to Rs 56,274 crore.

'Law and order better now than under BJP regime'

Acknowledging that the murder of Anjali Ambiger in Hubballi could have been prevented, Siddaramaiah revealed that three police personnel, including a deputy commissioner of Hubballi-Dharwad, have been suspended in connection with the incident. Citing data, the CM countered BJP's allegation that murders have increased in Karnataka under Congress rule. "In the first four months of 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, as many as 449, 466, 431, and 440 murders were reported, respectively. This shows, there is no increase at all."

'No political vendetta'

Emphasising that there was no political vendetta against any functionary or party in the alleged sex video scandal involving sitting JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, he said: "We have given a free hand to the SIT, and it will act according to law."