'Need of the hour': Karnataka Congress' 31 first-time MLAs write to Kharge seeking cabinet berths

Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar.

• 31 first-time Karnataka Congress MLAs seek cabinet berths
• MLAs urge inclusion of young faces in upcoming cabinet reshuffle
• They request at least five first-time MLAs be made ministers

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In a clear expression of their desire to be included in the state cabinet, as many as 31 first-time Karnataka Congress MLAs have written to party president Mallikarjun Kharge, urging the leadership to accommodate new and young faces during the next cabinet reshuffle, calling it a “need of the hour".

“It is the need of the hour that young, dynamic and proactive first-time MLAs are provided an opportunity to serve as ministers in the cabinet," the letter stated.

The letter, which has also been addressed to senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, seeks ministerial berths for first-time legislators amid talks of cabinet expansion.

In the letter, the MLAs pointed out that when the 34-member Siddaramaiah-led cabinet was formed, no first-time MLA was given a ministerial position, despite the Congress coming to power with a decisive mandate.

The signatories include Mandya MLA Ravikumar Gowda Ganiga, Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna, and Pavagada MLA HV Venkatesh, among others.

The MLAs further argued that giving ministerial responsibilities to newcomers is not unprecedented, noting that several state governments across the country have been led by first-time MLAs as Chief Ministers, with many others inducted as ministers.

The legislators have requested that at least five first-time MLAs be accommodated whenever the Chief Minister, in consultation with the Congress high command and the Deputy Chief Minister, undertakes a cabinet reshuffle.

Emphasising their commitment to Congress ideology and transparent governance, the MLAs expressed confidence that representing younger legislators could strengthen, rather than weaken, the party's organisational base and help it retain power in the 2028 Assembly election.

Meanwhile, on the leadership tussle, Siddaramaiah posted strongly-worded remarks on social media last week in which he claimed 'several powerful leaders had', over the years, attempted to isolate him politically and end his career through "cunning conspiracies".

The Karnataka cabinet reshuffle has been on the cards for some time, with CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar holding separate and parallel meetings in New Delhi with senior Congress leaders over the past four months.