‘High command, CM and PCC president will decide’: Minister Priyank Kharge on cabinet reshuffle

BENGALURU: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday dismissed speculation about a reshuffle in the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led cabinet, stating that such decisions will be taken by the Congress high command, the Chief Minister, and the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief.

Priyanka Kharge said, “Whatever has to be decided will be decided by the high command, himself (Chief Minister) and PCC President. The speculations are only in the media.” Earlier, Congress leader D K Suresh also gave a similar reply, saying that decisions regarding Cabinet reshuffle and power sharing in Karnataka rest solely with the party High Command, adding that he would “wait and watch”.

Furthermore, Priyank Kharge also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, targeting his recent “Muslim League Maoist Congress (MMC)” remark and alleging attempts to create divisions within the Congress. He accused the Prime Minister of focusing more on undermining opposition parties than governing the country.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: On cabinet reshuffle, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge says, “Whatever is to be decided will be decided by the high command, CM and the PCC president. So whatever the speculation is, it’s only in the media.”

“Unfortunately, the PM seems to be more… pic.twitter.com/AjbeZ0Ud1V

— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2025

Priyank Kharge said, “Unfortunately, the PM seems more interested in what is happening in Congress than actually governing and administering. What is the state of the economy? What is the status of job losses? What is his friend Donald Trump doing for India?”

“Instead of finding those things right and finding the perpetrators of the Delhi blast, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister are busy orchestrating the downfall of State governments and splitting parties. That’s the only job they have, I think. They’re not interested in governing,” he added.

The remarks come in the backdrop of PM Modi’s victory speech after the Bihar assembly poll results, where he referred to Congress as “Muslim League Maoist Congress (MMC)” and highlighted a faction within the party allegedly uncomfortable with its “negative agenda.”

PM Modi had said that there could be a “major split” in Congress because of their “Muslim League-Maoist” agenda. “Today, the Congress has become MMC- Muslim League Maoist Congress and the entire agenda of the Congress now revolves around this, and therefore, within the Congress as well, a separate faction is emerging that is uncomfortable with this negative politics…I fear that there could be another major split in the Congress”, PM Modi said, while addressing BJP workers at party headquarters in New Delhi after a landslide victory in Bihar. (ANI)