Karnataka Cabinet expansion delayed as Rahul busy with Delhi protests

Bengaluru: Karnataka's Cabinet expansion has got pushed to next week, with AICC leader Rahul Gandhi preoccupied with student protests in Delhi, delaying the Congress leadership's final approval for the list of new ministers.

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar returned from New Delhi without a finalised list after his meeting with the party leadership was deferred. Sources said Shivakumar and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah had submitted separate lists of prospective ministers, while Gandhi favoured allocating most of the vacancies to younger legislators and women.

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The delay has prompted lobbying by senior MLAs, with several leaders reaching out to AICC functionaries in a bid to secure Cabinet berths. Speaking to reporters in Delhi on Tuesday night, Shivakumar did not rule out "surprises" in the expansion.

The CM had hoped to complete the exercise within weeks of taking office on June 3, when he was sworn in along with 13 ministers. The government is keen to induct the remaining ministers ahead of the monsoon session of the legislature, scheduled to begin on August 6, to give them time to settle into their portfolios.

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There has been speculation that the CM may leave two Cabinet berths vacant to retain flexibility in managing future political developments. Shivakumar, however, said he was not in favour of keeping vacancies.

"I would prefer to fill all positions, including the Cabinet, the Chief Whip's post, the Assembly Speaker and the Legislative Council Chairman posts," he said.

The Congress leadership is also learnt to be considering the creation of one or two additional deputy chief minister posts as part of its social and regional balancing exercise ahead of the 2028 assembly elections, although no decision has been taken.

Deputy CM G Parameshwara has indicated that promoting younger leaders will be a key consideration in the expansion.

Around 50 Congress legislators are said to be in the race for nearly 20 vacant Cabinet berths, with the possibility of a greater number of first-time ministers fuelling anxiety among senior aspirants.