<p>The setback to the Congress in the Council polls has given rise to fresh concern among the party’s top brass.<br /><br /></p>.<p>According to senior Congress leaders, the high command had taken the defeat in all the four (two teachers’ and two graduates’) constituencies seriously. <br /><br />The party has suffered defeat in a series of elections held since the Congress government came to power three years ago in the state. <br /><br />Free hand unlikely<br />With Chief Minister Siddaramaiah preparing the ground for a major reshuffle of his cabinet, the Congress party top brass is unlikely to give him a free hand to pick his new team, given the election debacle. <br /><br />The party leaders may confront Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G Parameshwara when they visit Delhi this weekend to seek permission for the reshuffle. <br /><br />The high command is likely to consult a wide range of leaders in the state before finalising the new team, sources said.<br /><br />Senior leaders like Industries Minister R V Deshpande, Agriculture Minister Krishna Byregowda, Energy Minister D K Shivakumar and IT Minister S R Patil met the party top brass, including party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, former defence minister A K Antony and party president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel to lobby for their continuation as ministers. <br /><br />A large number of legislators from the state are also camping in Delhi, seeking ministerial berths.<br /> <br /></p>
<p>The setback to the Congress in the Council polls has given rise to fresh concern among the party’s top brass.<br /><br /></p>.<p>According to senior Congress leaders, the high command had taken the defeat in all the four (two teachers’ and two graduates’) constituencies seriously. <br /><br />The party has suffered defeat in a series of elections held since the Congress government came to power three years ago in the state. <br /><br />Free hand unlikely<br />With Chief Minister Siddaramaiah preparing the ground for a major reshuffle of his cabinet, the Congress party top brass is unlikely to give him a free hand to pick his new team, given the election debacle. <br /><br />The party leaders may confront Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G Parameshwara when they visit Delhi this weekend to seek permission for the reshuffle. <br /><br />The high command is likely to consult a wide range of leaders in the state before finalising the new team, sources said.<br /><br />Senior leaders like Industries Minister R V Deshpande, Agriculture Minister Krishna Byregowda, Energy Minister D K Shivakumar and IT Minister S R Patil met the party top brass, including party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, former defence minister A K Antony and party president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel to lobby for their continuation as ministers. <br /><br />A large number of legislators from the state are also camping in Delhi, seeking ministerial berths.<br /> <br /></p>
