Shivakumar fires fresh salvo against CM camp

New Delhi: The tussle in the Karnataka Congress has taken a new turn, with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar opening another front against detractors who are seeking his removal as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president.

In a fresh salvo fired at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's loyalists, Shivakumar is learned to have requested the party high command to effect a reshuffle in the state Cabinet.

The issue came up for discussion when Shivakumar met top Congress leadership while he was camping in the national capital ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.

The counter-offensive is seemingly aimed to offset a concerted campaign initiated by Siddaramaiah's close confidants seeking an organisational shake-up in the Karnataka Congress.

Sources have told DH that Shivakumar has suggested that after evaluation, "non-performing" ministers could be dropped to bring in fresh faces.

The list includes CM's known confidants.

They include Co-Operation Minister K N Rajanna, Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa, Agriculture Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy, Housing and Waqf Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, Mines Minister S S Mallikarjun, Excise Minister R B Thimmapur and Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresha.

Having got wind of the latest moves in the opponent's camp, Siddaramaiah's supporters rushed to Delhi in the last few days to up the ante. They too have urged the high command that apart from removing Shivakumar from the state president, some of the key portfolios of Irrigation and Bengaluru city Development held by the DyCM should be allocated to other ministers.

Shivkumar currently holds the twin responsibilities as KPCC chief and Deputy CM with two  plum portfolios.

The CM camp has also tried to impress upon the central leadership that in case of a reshuffle, ministers close to Shivakumar like  Woman and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar and Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar should also be evaluated for their performance.

PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Co-operation Minister K N Rajanna, the two close confidants of Siddaramaiah have met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and National General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal to press for their demands.

Other leaders including Home Minister G Parameshwara, Industries Minister M B Patil, Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa and Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao are also expected to arrive in the national capital in a couple of days to make their representations.

Congress leadership, sources say, is not averse to a mid-term evaluation. But it may take a final call only after the state budget session that is likely to be held next month.