First-time MLAs’ letter to Congress high command seeking Cabinet berths surfaces

An undated letter, purportedly signed by 31 first-time Congress legislators demanding at least five Cabinet berths during the proposed reshuffle, surfaced on Monday, even as the Congress government battles an internal crisis over leadership.

The letter, believed to be written last year, has been confirmed to be authentic by several legislators who had signed it.

It has been addressed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, and AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala.

The letter has been signed by legislators who have identified with camps of both the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, as well as those who are believed to be neutral.

While the idea of a Cabinet reshuffle is being apparently pushed by the Chief Minister to send a signal that he is firmly in the saddle, it is believed that the Deputy Chief Minister, who is seeking rotation of power, is opposed to the idea. Currently, of the 34 Cabinet berths, two are vacant owing to the resignations of B. Nagendra and K.N. Rajanna.

Pointing out that 38 first-time legislators have been elected on the Congress ticket, the letter said that none of them had been accommodated during the Cabinet formation. The letter sought Cabinet berths to “young, dynamic and proactive” first-time legislators. It said that accommodating them legislators was not new since in several States, first-time legislators have been made Chief Ministers and cabinet Ministers, and a mix of young and experienced always provides the right balance.

“All of us are strongly connected to the Congress ideology and strive to ensure clean, transparent and credible governance enabling us to bounce back to power in 2028,” it read.

Dalit CM idea being floated by Opposition: Home Minister

Home Minister G. Parameshwara said that the Opposition is raking up the Dalit Chief Minister issue to cover its own shortcomings.

“Is the Chief Minister not running the administration? He has been discussing with Ministers and officials for the last 12 days on the Budget preparation,” he said, adding that the Opposition is unnecessarily bringing out the Dalit Chief Minister issue.

“Only the Congress can make a Dalit the Chief Minister. Who else can? The high command will take a decision at the right time,” he said.

Interestingly, Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa on Sunday raised the issue of a Dalit leader being made the Chief Minister, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in his note on Sunday had also said that only the Congress could do it.