Changes may once again give birth to rebellion within the party

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's visit to New Delhi on Sunday has gained significance amid the ongoing resentment within the Congress following the recent cabinet expansion.
Before leaving for Delhi, Shivakumar met several senior Congress leaders, including B K Hariprasad, senior minister Ramalinga Reddy, MLC Saleem Ahmed, and Shivalinga Gowda.
The meetings took place at the KPCC office and, according to sources, discussed changes in the portfolios of ministers, filling up the vacant ministerial berth under the women's quota, and the demands of senior MLAs who were left out in the recent cabinet expansion.
Shivakumar has been holding continuous meetings with disgruntled senior leaders in an attempt to reduce the resentment within the party.
Before leaving for Delhi, he also met former ministers Dinesh Gundu Rao and other senior leaders at their residences.
Speculations are rife that the Chief Minister may discuss with the Congress high command whether the cabinet should be restricted to just a change of portfolios or a wholesale reshuffle of the council of ministers.
However, some senior leaders have cautioned that further changes could give birth to another rebellion in the party, even as the current resentment is gradually dying down.
Minister K N Rajanna said that whenever there is a reshuffle in the cabinet, some amount of resentment is inevitable.
He said that whenever there is a reshuffle, there is some resentment. The concerned party leaders will solve it. There is no problem.
Rajanna said that frequent changes in the ministerial list are unusual, but they are not the only reason for the resentment.
He said, "I have never seen such changes in the lists before. But it is not the only reason. There are other reasons as well."
He said Shivakumar would discuss these matters with the Congress high command in Delhi and return with decisions.
When asked about the reported resentment of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Rajanna said he had not met Siddaramaiah for the last three or four days, and so he could not comment on it.
On whether the frequent revision of the ministerial list indicates confusion within the Congress high command, Rajanna said, "Everyone is saying that there is confusion in the high command, but I am not saying that."
The uncertainty over the cabinet has also intensified lobbying among senior MLAs aspiring for ministerial positions.
The Congress leadership is also trying to placate leaders who were denied positions in the recent expansion.
The meeting with Saleem Ahmed reportedly discussed his aspiration for the post of Chairman of the Legislative Council and issues related to the upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, Minister Priyank Kharge defended former minister B Nagendra, responding to questions related to the ongoing legal action against him.
Kharge said, "If the court issues a notice, Nagendra will face it. There is no use discussing the matter in the media. He will respond in court."
Kharge also dismissed an unsigned document allegedly submitted to the Congress high command, saying it had no name and no signature, and so it could not be considered official correspondence.
These developments come at a time when the Karnataka Congress is trying to balance the aspirations for ministerial positions and prevent further dissensions within the party.
Shivakumar's meetings in Delhi are expected to provide more clarity on whether the Congress high command decides on a limited reshuffle of portfolios or makes wholesale changes in the cabinet.