ANI file photo
A decision on the speculation surrounding a possible leadership change in Karnataka is expected within the next two to three days, top Congress sources said, as cited by ANI. This followed a meeting between the party high command, the chief minister and the deputy chief minister. A range of key political matters, including the Rajya Sabha elections, a Cabinet reshuffle and the MLC polls, are likely to be decided during the discussions, the sources added. The developments come amid renewed political buzz over Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah’s scheduled meeting with the Congress leadership in New Delhi on Tuesday.Siddaramaiah said he had been invited for the meeting but was unaware of the agenda. “I have been invited to Delhi. There is a meeting tomorrow at 11 AM; I do not know the agenda. Mr Venugopal called me to inform me about the date and time of the meeting,” he told reporters.Responding to speculation over a possible leadership change in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said, “speculations are always there.”Deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar, meanwhile, suggested he may not attend the meeting, saying, “I will go if called.” Over the past 18 months, supporters of DK Shivakumar have repeatedly claimed that he would soon assume the chief minister’s post, although no such transition has materialised so far.“It’s been the same tune for three years now,” a senior party functionary said, as cited by ANI.Discontent is said to be mounting within the Karnataka Congress unit, with several leaders pressing the party high command to resolve the leadership uncertainty at the earliest. According to party sources, many believe the prolonged ambiguity is damaging the Congress’s image in the state.The central leadership, however, has so far refrained from taking a final decision, citing multiple factors.Meanwhile, a minor reshuffle in the Karnataka cabinet has been carried out, with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot transferring the Planning and Statistics portfolio from chief minister Siddaramaiah to Cabinet Minister K. Venkatesh.Siddaramaiah will continue to oversee several key departments, including Finance, Cabinet Affairs, the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), Intelligence, Information, Youth Services, Sports, ST Welfare and Co-operation, excluding Agriculture Marketing. He will also retain all other unallocated portfolios, according to the official notification.Venkatesh, who currently holds the Animal Husbandry and Sericulture portfolios, has been assigned additional charge of the Planning and Statistics department.The reshuffle takes immediate effect, according to a notification issued by the cabinet affairs and Personnel and Administrative Reforms Secretariat. Go to Source
