Bengaluru, Oct 9 (NationPress) Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister and Congress President D.K. Shivakumar asserted on Thursday that he possesses no details regarding any potential cabinet reshuffle. He emphasized that the decision rests with the party and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who "will make the final call".

In response to inquiries from the media outside his residence in Sadashivanagar, Bengaluru, Shivakumar remarked: “I will refrain from commenting on this matter. If discussions occur with me, I will provide my input. I urge you (the media) to avoid creating unnecessary confusion by debating this topic.”

When questioned about the dinner hosted by the Chief Minister, he replied: "What’s wrong with that? It is normal to gather, share a meal, and discuss various matters."

Regarding the 'Big Boss Kannada' situation, he stated, “On Wednesday night, I contacted the DC and instructed him to allow Jollywood Studios the chance to correct their error. Our industries need to flourish. This isn't a substantial factory causing significant pollution. If minor infractions have taken place, they can be rectified. I have advised the studio to adhere to the Pollution Control Board's regulations.”

Addressing the rumors surrounding a cabinet reshuffle, Home Minister G. Parameshwara remarked: "The cabinet reshuffle will be determined at the high command level. I’m unaware of the origin of these rumors. Who has made such remarks regarding the reshuffle? The Chief Minister has not indicated any timeline for it."

Parameshwara noted that there is a request from the Valmiki community for ministerial representation, but the high command will make the ultimate decision.

Amid discussions of leadership changes and a potential cabinet reshuffle, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has arranged a dinner meeting for Congress MLAs in Bengaluru, scheduled for October 13, ahead of the reshuffle.

Sources close to the Chief Minister indicate that the reshuffle is expected to occur after the Bihar elections. The dinner meeting aims to convey a strong message that leadership will remain unchanged.

The Chief Minister has already conferred with Congress General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal, during his recent visit to Bengaluru and intends to discuss the matter with Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Meanwhile, sources have indicated that Shivakumar’s faction anticipates a possible leadership change in November, citing a power-sharing agreement that would see Siddaramaiah step down after the half-term. MLAs aligned with Shivakumar have publicly stated this expectation.

Conversely, Siddaramaiah is believed to be using the cabinet reshuffle as a tactic to counter these claims.