Confusion deepens in Karnataka Congress as leaders issue conflicting statements over a possible cabinet reshuffle and leadership change, with D.K. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah holding key meetings in Delhi.

The Congress government in Karnataka has entered another phase of uncertainty, with senior leaders sending mixed signals about possible changes in the cabinet and wider leadership structure. A series of meetings in New Delhi involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge — has intensified speculation, even as top leaders publicly deny any imminent shake-up.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara suggested on Sunday that discussions were limited to a cabinet reshuffle, insisting that leadership changes typically do not accompany such exercises. His remarks followed Siddaramaiah’s meeting with Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Saturday — a conversation the chief minister insisted focused only on the Bihar elections, though party insiders claim cabinet matters were indeed raised.

Shivakumar, who stayed back in Delhi after cancelling a Hyderabad trip, said he had no information about Siddaramaiah’s meeting or talks of a reshuffle. He maintained that decisions rest with the party high command, adding that chief ministers meeting senior leaders is routine.

Meanwhile, Shivakumar’s brother and former MP D.K. Suresh echoed the uncertainty, saying he learned about the reshuffle talk only through the media. As discussions intensify ahead of the winter session beginning December 8, party leaders say that 8–12 ministers could be replaced if Kharge approves the plan — a move seen as a balancing act between regional demands and factional pressure.

The list of potential entrants includes MLAs N.A. Harris, Rizwan Arshad, B.K. Hariprasad, Belur Gopalakrishna, Prasad Abbayya, H.C. Balakrishna, Saleem Ahmed, R.V. Deshpande, M. Krishnappa, Laxman Savadi, among others. Some legislators openly expressed confidence in their chances while acknowledging that the final call lies with the central leadership.

Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi urged the party to put an end to the “confusion” by offering clarity, noting that leadership chatter is natural in a state of over six crore people.

Analysis: The Congress leadership in Karnataka appears caught between internal factional pulls and the need to project stability ahead of upcoming national and state political challenges. While both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar publicly downplay any tension, the reshuffle debate reveals deeper anxieties within the party. How the high command navigates this moment may determine whether the government enters the next legislative phase stronger or further divided.