Bengaluru, March 25 A group photoshoot of Karnataka MLAs on Wednesday sparked speculation about a possible leadership change and cabinet reshuffle in the state.
The timing of the group photoshoot led to speculation, as such an exercise is typically held at the end of the Assembly's five-year tenure, which is 2028 in this case.
While some, including those in the ruling party and opposition, linked it to the possibility of a CM change in the coming days, there is also speculation about the much-awaited cabinet reshuffle.
There are also talks within the ruling party circles that Speaker U T Khader arranged the group photoshoot because he is likely to be inducted into the cabinet during the reshuffle.
Interestingly, when the Speaker announced the group photoshoot in the House on Tuesday and invited MLAs to attend, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, addressing the Chair, expressed surprise about its timing.
Trying to take a dig at the ruling party, the opposition BJP posted the group photo on 'X' and asked the Congress, "Isn't this the outgoing photo shoot of CM Siddaramaiah?"
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka in the Assembly, poking fun at Speaker Khader, said, "I have doubts about him (Khader). Usually, group photoshoots are done at the end of five years. I think he feels his tenure as Speaker is ending, so he wants to keep the photo ready before that."
He asked CM Siddaramaiah to tell the House how long Khader will remain as Speaker.
Siddaramaiah responded by saying Khader will be Speaker until the high command decides.
Ashoka, laughingly, retorted, saying Khader was desiring and dreaming of becoming a minister. Khader responded by saying "No, nothing like that."
Congress MLA Vijayananda Kashappanavar, questioning what's wrong if the photo shoot is held now, told reporters, "Speaker Khader may have expectations to become a minister and he may become a minister....I too have similar expectations for myself."
Amid the ongoing power struggle within the ruling Congress, fueled by speculation about a chief minister change, some Congress MLAs have been pushing for a cabinet reshuffle for some time, with several aspirants openly expressing their wish to be inducted.
Karnataka has a sanctioned strength of 34 ministers, including the chief minister. Two cabinet berths are currently vacant, following the resignation of B Nagendra over allegations of embezzlement at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation, and the sacking of K N Rajanna on the instructions of the party high command.
The speculation about leadership change has been fueled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
