Several Karnataka Congress MLAs travel to Delhi to push for cabinet reshuffle

BENGALURU: A delegation of Congress MLAs travelled to the national capital to meet the party’s high command to push for ministerial representation and to raise long-pending demands regarding a cabinet reshuffle. Among those travelling are Ashok Pattan, Bangarapet MLA S N Narayanaswamy, Tiptur MLA K Shadakshari, A R Krishnamurthy, Puttaranga Shetty, Belur Gopal Krishna and others.

While speaking on this matter, senior MLA T B Jayachandra on Sunday said the delegation’s outreach to the party high command is a “routine matter” aimed at discussing organisational issues and a possible cabinet reshuffle, asserting that there is no leadership question within the state unit.

The delegation is also expected to meet senior party leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal, Randeep Surjewala and other AICC leaders during their stay in the national capital. Congress MLA T B Jayachandra said that his visit to Delhi is a routine political engagement aimed at meeting the party high command and discussing organisational matters.

#WATCH | Delhi | On Karnataka Congress MLAs visiting Delhi to meet AICC senior leaders, Karnataka Congress MLA SN Narayanaswamy says, “When Congress came to power in Karnataka, we were promised that the senior leaders who have won for the third, fourth, or fifth time, will be… https://t.co/U9gEmEK8mP pic.twitter.com/DJA7TZqYF6

— ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2026

He said, “It is a routine matter for me. I’m a state representative in Delhi… There are many MLAs also coming, and we wanted to meet the high command and convince for the reshuffle. That is the demand of the many senior MLAs… This government has provided an opportunity for three years; only two years left. That is why we all wanted to go and meet the High Command and to make a request before him…” “The leadership issue is not at all there before us. It is between the four walls of the CM, Deputy CM, the AICC President and Rahul Gandhi,” he assured.

#WATCH | Delhi: On the Delhi visit of the Karnataka Congress MLAs, Congress MLA TB Jayachandra says, “…It is a routine matter for me. I’m a state representative in Delhi… There are many MLAs also coming, and we wanted to meet the high command and convince for the reshuffle.… pic.twitter.com/lj8eAvOmhZ

— ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2026

Along the same lines, Karnataka Congress MLA S N Narayanaswamy said the delegation is meeting top AICC leaders to place their demand for a cabinet reshuffle. “We are going to meet Venugopal, Surjewala, Mallikarjun Kharge, and all Congress leaders. Our demands are a Cabinet reshuffle,” he said, adding that leadership change is not on the agenda either and is the prerogative of the high command.

MLA K Shadakshari too said that the delegation will attempt to meet the party leadership during their visit. “We are going to meet everyone from AICC. If we get an appointment, we will meet Rahul Gandhi,” he said.

On arrival in Delhi, MLA A R Krishnamurthy said senior and multiple-term MLAs have collectively raised the demand for a reshuffle. “The members who won for the third, fourth, or fifth term want a cabinet reshuffle. We brought this to the notice of the Chief Minister too,” he said, adding that discussions will be held with the central leadership in Delhi. He clarified that there is no demand for a leadership change, stating that it is entirely for the high command to decide.

On the same note, Karnataka Congress MLA Ashok Pattan said the delegation will meet senior party leaders and push for a cabinet reshuffle, claiming it is the main agenda of the visit. “We will try to meet Rahul Gandhi. We will meet Mallikarjun Kharge, Surjewala, and Venugopal. We have just one condition. Cabinet reshuffle,” he said.

#WATCH | Arriving in Delhi, Karnataka Congress MLA Ashok Pattan says, “We will try to meet Rahul Gandhi. We will meet Mallikarjun Kharge, Surjewala, and Venugopal. We have just one condition. Cabinet reshuffle. I am a senior leader. I will request them to make me a Minister…… https://t.co/U9gEmEK8mP pic.twitter.com/Pm9aGF3R5S

— ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2026

He added that the demand is linked to an earlier assurance within the party. “Surjewala told us that the Cabinet will be reshuffled after 2.5 years. It has already been three years. Our demand is to make us Ministers for at least the remaining two years,” he added, while clarifying that leadership change is not part of the discussion.

#WATCH | Delhi | On Karnataka Congress MLAs visiting Delhi to meet AICC senior leaders, Karnataka Congress MLA DG Shanthana Gowda says, “We are here to meet Mallikarjun Kharge, Surjewala, and Rahul Gandhi, to reshuffle the Cabinet…and give an opportunity to the MLAs that won… https://t.co/U9gEmEK8mP pic.twitter.com/BtPFvGzafe

— ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2026

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday hinted at a cabinet reshuffle in the state and said that there was “nothing wrong” with Congress leaders wanting ministerial or Chief Ministerial positions. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said, “When our Chief Minister has said that there is going to be a reshuffle, naturally, everyone would like to become a minister or CM. They may try. There is nothing wrong with it.”

The cabinet reshuffle comes amid the Congress government grappling with internal friction, particularly with supporters of Shivakumar demanding that he be appointed as the Chief Minister for the remaining little over 2 years of the government, citing the 2023 “power-sharing agreement”.

This leadership tussle has prompted repeated meetings between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to prevent escalation, and both leaders have time and again said that the party high command will make a decision on the issue. (ANI)