Around 30 senior Congress legislators from Karnataka are making a beeline for the party high command’s office in New Delhi, hoping to meet Rahul Gandhi to secure ministerial berths for themselves and to pressure the leadership to push Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to undertake a Cabinet reshuffle in the state.
The move follows a strategy meeting over dinner in March, where the legislators deliberated on their demands amid growing calls for a rejig after the recent by-elections.
Speaking ahead of the visit, scheduled for Monday, Congress MLA Belur Gopalakrishna said the group had earlier met in significant numbers and collectively decided to press for opportunities in the ministry.
“There are leaders who have been given chances three, four, even five times. We are going to request that those who have not yet been accommodated be given an opportunity,” he said, adding that the visit is solely focused on securing ministerial positions.
Echoing similar sentiments, Congress MLA Ashok Pattan emphasised that the effort reflects a push for collective leadership.
“There is only one demand — we are requesting that the Cabinet be reshuffled as soon as possible and that senior members like us be given an opportunity,” he said. Pattan noted that while Siddaramaiah had earlier indicated that others would be accommodated after two years, nearly three years have passed, partly due to elections and Assembly sessions.
He added that the group plans to meet AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and will also attempt to meet senior leaders such as KC Venugopal, Randeep Surjewala and Rahul Gandhi, depending on their availability.
“It is for the high command to take a decision. There is nothing controversial in our demand,” Pattan said.
The legislators have also indicated that they want a significant number of positions — around 25 — to be opened up through a broader Cabinet restructuring. They argue that several leaders have held ministerial posts multiple times, leaving little room for new faces.
Maintaining that their visit has no agenda beyond the Cabinet expansion, the MLAs said they are approaching the leadership collectively to present their demands, intent and aspirations.
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