A significant political shake-up appears imminent in Karnataka, with the Congress high command reportedly preparing for a major cabinet reshuffle. Senior party leader Rahul Gandhi is said to be dissatisfied with the current state leadership, particularly following the tragic stampede during the RCB felicitation event in Bengaluru, which left 11 people dead and many injured. Sources reveal that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Home Minister G Parameshwara may lose their key portfolios as a result.
According to information accessed by India Today, top Congress leaders including President Mallikarjun Kharge, Randeep Surjewala, and KC Venugopal are scheduled to convene a high-level meeting to discuss the possible overhaul. The move signals the party’s intent to course-correct amid public and internal criticism. Rahul Gandhi, deeply concerned by the recent developments in Bengaluru, is believed to be pushing for broader changes within the Karnataka Congress leadership.
The reshuffle talks come on the heels of widespread outrage following the June 4 stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which occurred during a celebratory event for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's historic IPL win. While Chief Minister Siddaramaiah acted swiftly, suspending multiple police officials including Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, the decision has sparked public debate. Many citizens and former officers have expressed support for the suspended officials, viewing the disciplinary actions as hasty.
Simultaneously, speculation is rife that DK Shivakumar could be replaced as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President. Meanwhile, senior Congress leaders such as BK Hariprasad and RV Deshpande are reportedly in line for cabinet induction. Internal discussions are also underway to pause the ongoing Socio-Economic Survey, widely known as the caste census.
At a press conference in Delhi, DK Shivakumar denied that any cabinet reshuffle discussions took place, though he confirmed that the stampede incident was reviewed by party leaders. "There were no discussions about cabinet reshuffle during the meeting," Shivakumar said, while acknowledging the party's concern and commitment to addressing the tragedy.
