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Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and AICC General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal are scheduled to hold a crucial meeting on Tuesday morning to deliberate on key organisational issues and the current political situation.
According to party sources, the high-level meeting is tentatively scheduled to take place in the first half of the day, after 11:00 AM. Apart from discussing structural changes and reinforcing the party's stance on prevailing political developments, the leaders are also highly likely to discuss the much-anticipated expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet. Earlier in June, the Congress high command issued a stern warning to Karnataka MLAs, seers, and community leaders against lobbying for ministerial posts in the DK Shivakumar-led cabinet, asking them to exercise patience. The directive comes after a surge in demands from various quarters. Several community representatives, religious mutts, seers, and followers have publicly pressed for cabinet berths for their respective MLAs. Multiple delegations have also met senior leaders in Bengaluru and Delhi. Senior party sources said the high command has conveyed to the MLAs and their supporters not to mount pressure through public protests, mutts, or community groups. They were asked to maintain discipline, as such campaigns can harm the party's image and create unnecessary factionalism. According to the sources, the cabinet expansion and reshuffle decisions will be taken by the party leadership and Chief Minister DK Shivakumar at an appropriate time. Meanwhile, the party is also facing discontent within the Punjab Congress unit following recent organisational decisions ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. This follows weeks of speculation about a rift after the Punjab Congress chief, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, retained his post while former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi was made Punjab Campaign Committee Chairperson. However, AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab, Bhupesh Baghel, has asserted that there is "no resentment" among the party. Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that while unity is pivotal for polls, there should be no "compromised leaders" within their ranks. (ANI)
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