Karnataka Cabinet expansion likely after July 12 as Congress eyes a balance act
DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are likely to meet Congress high command soon to finalise the Karnataka cabinet expansion, with discussions focusing on factional claims, caste and regional representation, new faces and greater representation for women.
The long-pending expansion and reshuffle of the Karnataka cabinet is expected to move forward only after senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi returns to Delhi, with the party high command set to take the final call on the composition of the ministry.
According to sources, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar are likely to travel to Delhi after July 12 for crucial consultations with the Congress leadership. The meeting is expected to determine the final list of ministers, bringing an end to weeks of speculation over the much-awaited cabinet exercise.
Sources said Siddaramaiah has drawn up a list of seven to eight legislators he wants to be inducted into the ministry led by Shivakumar. Most of the names are understood to be leaders considered loyal to the former Chief Minister and aligned with his camp within the party.
Shivakumar, too, is expected to submit his own list of aspirants for cabinet berths to the Congress leadership. He is said to be lobbying for the inclusion of his supporters, making the exercise a delicate balancing act for the Congress leadership.
Shivakumar was sworn in on June 3 along with 13 ministers, and since then, senior leaders, former ministers and even first-time MLAs have reportedly been engaged in intense lobbying for the remaining 20 cabinet berths.
However, the party high command is believed to be looking beyond factional considerations. With the 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections already in focus, the leadership is keen to use the reshuffle to project a fresh image and signal a generational transition within the party.
Sources indicated that the Congress leadership favours the induction of several new faces rather than relying solely on seasoned legislators. For the first time since the party returned to power in Karnataka, a few first-time MLAs could also be considered for ministerial positions as part of its long-term political strategy.
Regional and caste representation are also expected to play a key role in the final decision-making process. The leadership is said to be keen on ensuring a balanced representation of different regions of Karnataka and major communities while finalising the new ministry.
In addition, the Congress is looking at increasing women's representation in the cabinet. Sources said two to three women legislators could be inducted during the expansion.
If the consultations in Delhi conclude as scheduled, the swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place in Bengaluru before July 20.
The Karnataka government is simultaneously preparing for the next session of the Assembly, with the monsoon session expected to be convened in mid-August. The cabinet expansion is likely to be completed well before then, enabling the government to enter the session with a full-strength ministry.
The long-pending expansion and reshuffle of the Karnataka cabinet is expected to move forward only after senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi returns to Delhi, with the party high command set to take the final call on the composition of the ministry.
According to sources, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar are likely to travel to Delhi after July 12 for crucial consultations with the Congress leadership. The meeting is expected to determine the final list of ministers, bringing an end to weeks of speculation over the much-awaited cabinet exercise.
Sources said Siddaramaiah has drawn up a list of seven to eight legislators he wants to be inducted into the ministry led by Shivakumar. Most of the names are understood to be leaders considered loyal to the former Chief Minister and aligned with his camp within the party.
Shivakumar, too, is expected to submit his own list of aspirants for cabinet berths to the Congress leadership. He is said to be lobbying for the inclusion of his supporters, making the exercise a delicate balancing act for the Congress leadership.
Shivakumar was sworn in on June 3 along with 13 ministers, and since then, senior leaders, former ministers and even first-time MLAs have reportedly been engaged in intense lobbying for the remaining 20 cabinet berths.
However, the party high command is believed to be looking beyond factional considerations. With the 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections already in focus, the leadership is keen to use the reshuffle to project a fresh image and signal a generational transition within the party.
Sources indicated that the Congress leadership favours the induction of several new faces rather than relying solely on seasoned legislators. For the first time since the party returned to power in Karnataka, a few first-time MLAs could also be considered for ministerial positions as part of its long-term political strategy.
Regional and caste representation are also expected to play a key role in the final decision-making process. The leadership is said to be keen on ensuring a balanced representation of different regions of Karnataka and major communities while finalising the new ministry.
In addition, the Congress is looking at increasing women's representation in the cabinet. Sources said two to three women legislators could be inducted during the expansion.
If the consultations in Delhi conclude as scheduled, the swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place in Bengaluru before July 20.
The Karnataka government is simultaneously preparing for the next session of the Assembly, with the monsoon session expected to be convened in mid-August. The cabinet expansion is likely to be completed well before then, enabling the government to enter the session with a full-strength ministry.
