The Congress party is planning a significant cabinet overhaul in Karnataka following the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
This reshuffle is critical for the party to maintain its grip on the AHINDA coalition, which comprises minorities, Dalits, and backward classes. By adjusting ministerial roles, the party aims to manage internal power dynamics and ensure regional representation across the state.
Discussions regarding the new cabinet structure intensified in mid-May 2026 [1]. The process is being driven by senior party leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and the outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah [2].
Central to the strategy is the potential creation of multiple leadership roles to satisfy various factions. Reports indicate that Congress is considering the appointment of four deputy chief ministers [3]. This unusual move would allow the party to distribute power among key regional leaders and caste representatives, a necessity for maintaining stability within the coalition.
In addition to the deputy chief minister slots, the party is weighing the introduction of new ministerial faces [3]. These appointments are intended to refresh the administration and address grievances from legislators who felt sidelined under the previous arrangement.
Much of the coordination has taken place in Bengaluru, where party offices have become the hub for high-level meetings [2]. Supporters of D.K. Shivakumar have already begun signaling a transition of power, with some placing cutouts of him outside the Bengaluru Congress office to mark his expected rise in the state's hierarchy [2].
The final list of ministers will depend on the party's ability to balance the complex caste calculus required to keep the AHINDA base secure, while rewarding loyalists within the party ranks [3].
“Congress is considering appointing four deputy chief ministers”
The move toward a multi-deputy chief minister model suggests a fragile internal balance within the Karnataka Congress. By expanding the top tier of leadership, the party is attempting to prevent defections and internal rebellion by offering high-ranking titles to competing power centers rather than consolidating authority in a single individual.
