CM DK Shivakumar's Delhi visit fuels buzz over Karnataka cabinet expansion
Karnataka Chief Minister's Delhi visit has put the spotlight back on the long-delayed cabinet expansion, with sources indicating he is likely to meet the Congress leadership to discuss filling the 20 vacant ministerial berths.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's visit to New Delhi on Wednesday has reignited speculation over a possible meeting with the Congress high command on the long-pending expansion of his cabinet, amid mounting pressure from ministerial aspirants.
According to his official itinerary, Shivakumar will arrive in the national capital on Wednesday evening and is scheduled to meet Union ministers.
While the programme does not include any meeting with the Congress leadership, party sources said he is expected to hold discussions with the high command. His return schedule has also been kept open, fuelling speculation over political consultations.
The visit comes days after Shivakumar said he would travel to Delhi once the party leadership gave him an appointment, asserting that there was no delay from his side on the cabinet expansion.
"Whenever they give me time, I will go. They will give me a date in another three or four days. Once they do, I will go and come back," he had said on Monday.
Shivakumar took oath as chief minister on June 3 along with 13 ministers, following Siddaramaiah's resignation on May 28. With Karnataka permitted to have a 34-member council of ministers, including the chief minister, 20 ministerial berths remain vacant, intensifying lobbying within the ruling Congress.
Party sources said the chief minister faces the challenge of accommodating a large number of aspirants while balancing caste, regional and political considerations, with limited vacancies available.
The BJP has repeatedly criticised the Congress government over the delay in expanding the cabinet, alleging internal differences and questioning the government's priorities amid the drought situation in the state.
Against this backdrop, Shivakumar's Delhi visit is being closely watched for possible discussions on cabinet expansion, a key pending political decision for the Congress government in Karnataka.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's visit to New Delhi on Wednesday has reignited speculation over a possible meeting with the Congress high command on the long-pending expansion of his cabinet, amid mounting pressure from ministerial aspirants.
According to his official itinerary, Shivakumar will arrive in the national capital on Wednesday evening and is scheduled to meet Union ministers.
While the programme does not include any meeting with the Congress leadership, party sources said he is expected to hold discussions with the high command. His return schedule has also been kept open, fuelling speculation over political consultations.
The visit comes days after Shivakumar said he would travel to Delhi once the party leadership gave him an appointment, asserting that there was no delay from his side on the cabinet expansion.
"Whenever they give me time, I will go. They will give me a date in another three or four days. Once they do, I will go and come back," he had said on Monday.
Shivakumar took oath as chief minister on June 3 along with 13 ministers, following Siddaramaiah's resignation on May 28. With Karnataka permitted to have a 34-member council of ministers, including the chief minister, 20 ministerial berths remain vacant, intensifying lobbying within the ruling Congress.
Party sources said the chief minister faces the challenge of accommodating a large number of aspirants while balancing caste, regional and political considerations, with limited vacancies available.
The BJP has repeatedly criticised the Congress government over the delay in expanding the cabinet, alleging internal differences and questioning the government's priorities amid the drought situation in the state.
Against this backdrop, Shivakumar's Delhi visit is being closely watched for possible discussions on cabinet expansion, a key pending political decision for the Congress government in Karnataka.
