Karnataka Cabinet expansion hangs fire as Congress high command yet to clear list

Bengaluru: Uncertainty continues over the expansion of Karnataka's two-month-old Cabinet, as the Congress high command has yet to approve the list of new ministers, leaving aspirants waiting for the final nod from the party leadership in New Delhi.

The delay comes despite Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's assurance last week that the long-pending exercise would be completed by the end of July. With the Karnataka legislature scheduled to meet from August 13, Congress is under pressure to fill the 20 vacant berths in the 34-member Council of Ministers.

Party sources said AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi are expected to vet the proposed list on Monday after receiving input from AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal and RS Surjewala. However, there was no indication of a breakthrough until Sunday evening.


Lok Bhavan is ready to administer the oath of office at short notice if the list receives the party leadership's approval. The swearing-in could take place as early as Monday evening, sources said.

Leadership weighs competing claims

According to party sources, the high command is examining recommendations submitted by the CM, former CM Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president BK Hariprasad.

The expansion has been delayed by competing claims from senior leaders and the party's attempt to strike a balance among regions, communities, factions and generations.

The CM submitted a long list of about 30 aspirants for the leadership to choose from, while Siddaramaiah strongly backed several of his loyalists. Rahul Gandhi is also learnt to have favoured greater representation for younger legislators and women based on feedback from party general secretaries, raising the possibility of a few surprise inclusions.

Pressure mounts ahead of Assembly session

The Cabinet expansion was originally expected about 10 days ago but was deferred as Rahul Gandhi and other senior Congress leaders were occupied with political developments in Delhi.

The prolonged delay has fuelled speculation within the ruling party and given the Opposition BJP an opportunity to target the government over its inability to complete the exercise.

DK Shivakumar was sworn in as Chief Minister on June 3 along with 13 ministers, leaving 20 Cabinet positions vacant. The CM has maintained that he does not favour leaving vacancies unfilled, amid speculation that the party could retain a couple of berths to accommodate future political exigencies.