Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s high-profile dinner meeting with his cabinet colleagues on Sunday night at his Cauvery residence sparked widespread political curiosity, with many expecting discussions around the much-speculated cabinet reshuffle. However, sources confirmed that the meeting primarily focused on Bihar Assembly election strategies and implementation of state-level development funds — not internal leadership changes.
According to senior leaders present, the Chief Minister held private discussions with ministers regarding constituency-level works, the utilisation of ₹50 crore development grants, and the Congress’s campaign responsibilities in the upcoming Bihar elections. Deputy Chief Ministers D.K. Shivakumar and Dr. G. Parameshwara, along with senior minister K.J. George, attended the meeting but left early after brief consultations.
No Sign of “November Revolution,” Say Ministers
Dispelling speculation about a “November political shake-up,” Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy stated that no discussion on cabinet expansion took place during the dinner.
“There is no revolution, only confusion. The meeting focused on upcoming BBMP and ZP elections, not on cabinet reshuffle or leadership change,” he clarified.
Minister Santosh Lad also dismissed political rumours, describing the gathering as a “casual dinner meeting.”
“The CM met each minister privately to discuss departmental progress. There was no official agenda related to cabinet reconstitution,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister Cheluvarayaswamy, who was preparing to travel to the Philippines for an academic delegation, confirmed he had obtained prior permission and added,
“Honestly, nothing political was discussed. It was a routine dinner and nothing more.”
Bihar Election Overhang Delays Cabinet Moves
Political observers noted that with Bihar elections concluding on November 14, any major administrative or political reshuffle in Karnataka is unlikely before mid-December.
If the Congress-led alliance performs well, attention will shift to government formation in Bihar. If it faces defeat, party strategists in Karnataka may hold back from internal changes to avoid political instability.
The upcoming Belagavi legislature session in mid-December also complicates the timeline for any new ministers to settle into their roles.
For now, sources in the Congress high command indicate that cabinet surgery remains on hold, with the Siddaramaiah–DK Shivakumar leadership expected to maintain status quo until the end of the year.
While speculation of a “November Revolution” dominated pre-meeting chatter, the CM’s dinner at Cauvery turned out to be a routine consultative meet — focused more on poll strategy than political upheaval. Karnataka’s political circles may need to wait until 2026 to see any concrete reshuffle or power recalibration within the Congress government.
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