Karnataka Cabinet: Congress mulls another reshuffle

Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar will meet the AICC leadership in Delhi on Monday to address discontent within the Congress following the August 3 cabinet expansion, which was marked by last-minute changes to the list of ministers.

AICC general secretary RS Surjewala and the CM have personally reached out to some senior MLAs to defuse tensions, but the outreach has not worked in some cases. Shivakumar is now considering a minor cabinet reshuffle, including dropping two or three ministers and inducting senior legislators in their place, besides filling the lone vacant berth.

The exercise is expected to be finalised by Monday evening. Senior leader Siddaramaiah's minister-son, Yathindra, may become the Leader of the Legislative Council, in what could amount to a double reward.


Portfolio Pressure

The CM has not yet allocated portfolios to the newly inducted ministers amid intense lobbying by some of them for departments of their choice. He may also reshuffle the portfolios of some ministers who took oath with him on June 3 to accommodate their preferences.

All-Male Team

The absence of women from the expanded cabinet, despite Rahul Gandhi's reported push for greater representation for women and younger legislators, has also attracted attention. The AICC is now considering including one woman as part of the proposed changes. MLAs Roopa Shashidhar and Laxmi Hebbalkar, and MLC Gayathri Shanthe Gowda are among the names being discussed.