The meeting also comes as the Congress government in Karnataka nears its halfway mark and talk grows of a possible cabinet reshuffle.
Published Nov 16, 2025 | 11:43 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 16, 2025 | 11:43 PM
Siddaramaiah dismissed theories about a possible “November Revolution”.
Synopsis: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Saturday amid the party’s setback in the Bihar Assembly elections and renewed speculation about a possible cabinet rejig. During the visit, he reportedly also sought Gandhi’s approval for the cabinet expansion.
Amid intense political chatter after the Congress’s heavy drubbing in the Bihar Assembly elections, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Saturday, 15 November.
The meeting also comes as the Congress government in Karnataka nears its halfway mark and talk grows of a possible cabinet reshuffle.
While the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar were in the national capital to attend the book launch of former Union Minister and senior advocate Kapil Sibal, Siddaramaiah also met Gandhi, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal and other central leaders. Shivakumar told reporters that he would meet top leaders if they were available.
Siddaramaiah, meanwhile, dismissed theories about a possible “November Revolution” and said a change in leadership in Karnataka was not discussed with senior Congress leaders. He reiterated that state-level political issues did not feature during the meeting.
“He [Rahul Gandhi] is our leader, so we encouraged him as there was a setback in the Bihar election. He said he is not worried about it. We have told him not to lose his spirit,” he told reporters on Saturday.
Siddaramaiah reportedly mentioned the cabinet expansion briefly during the meeting and sought Gandhi’s approval, according to party sources.
Gandhi is said to have given the green signal and advised the Chief Minister to consult All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge for the final decisions.
Although the Chief Minister returned to Bengaluru on Saturday night, he has sought time to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Monday to discuss the ongoing agitation by Karnataka’s sugarcane farmers.
He had earlier written to Modi seeking an urgent meeting to discuss the situation, pointing out that the root of the problem lies in central policy levers: the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) formula, the stagnating Minimum Support Price (MSP) for sugar, export curbs and the underutilised ethanol off-take from sugar-based feedstock.
Siddaramaiah is also expected to meet Kharge on Monday.
Meanwhile, Shivakumar, when asked about the Chief Minister’s meetings, insisted there was nothing unusual about such interactions with senior leaders.
“The CM has every right to meet Mallikarjun Kharge, the Home Minister or the PM. What is wrong with that?” he asked.
On a cabinet reshuffle, he said, “If you want to ask anything about reshuffling or leadership change, speak to the Chief Minister. We have to follow what the party says.”
Shivakumar said he would be meeting Kharge about laying the foundation stone for 100 Congress offices before January.
“Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge must come to this program. That is why I am going to meet Mallikarjun Kharge,” he said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
