16 July,2026 02:25 PM IST | Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. File pic
The long-awaited expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet is expected to gather momentum, with top Congress leaders arriving in New Delhi for discussions with the party's central leadership. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Siddaramaiah, and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad are in the national capital as consultations over the ministerial reshuffle intensify, reported IANS.
Several Congress MLAs and former ministers have also reached Delhi, stepping up efforts to secure Cabinet berths. Party sources indicated that the Congress high command could take a final decision within the next two days.
The Karnataka government is currently functioning with 14 ministries, including the Chief Minister, leaving 20 Cabinet positions vacant. With more than 40 senior leaders reportedly vying for ministerial roles, the Congress leadership is carefully weighing its options to avoid internal discontent while the opposition BJP and JD(S) closely monitor developments.
Senior Congress MLA Ashok Pattan, a three-time legislator from Belagavi and a close associate of Siddharamaiah, expressed confidence that the expansion process would be commpleted soon.
"Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is in Delhi. Former CM Siddaramaiah and KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad have also arrived. We expect the meeting with the leadership to take place by noon. If a decision is taken today, it is fine; otherwise, it could happen tomorrow. We are hopeful that the entire process will be completed within two days," Pattan said, reported IANS.
Pattan also openly declared himself a contender for a ministerial post, saying his claim is based on seniority and loyalty rather than caste.
"During Siddaramaiah's tenure, I was denied an opportunity to become a minister. I have now requested the leadership to give me a chance. The party should recognise the sacrifices and years of service put in by leaders rather than only considering caste and sub-caste equations," he said.
He added that six MLAs had travelled to Delhi together and had already met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge while seeking appointments with AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala.
Former minister and Congress MLA Laxman Savadi also reitered his desire for a Cabinet berth. Although the Lingayat community is already represented by three ministers, he expressed hope that two additional berthws could be alloted to leaders from the community. Savadi had joined the Congress from the BJP, where he had earlier served as Deputy Chief Minister.
Veteran Congress leader and seven-time MLA T.B. Jayachandra said the Cabinet expansion has entered its final phase and stressed that a full-strength ministry is necessary for effective governance before the upcoming Assembly session.
"The Assembly session is scheduled to be held soon, and I am confident that the matter will be finalised at the earliest. The Cabinet is currently functioning with 13 ministers, and governance will improve once the full Cabinet is in place," he said.
Jayachandra, who is currently serving as the Karnataka government's Special Representative in Delhi, also said he remains hopeful of being inducted into the Cabinet.
Six-time MLA Appaji Nadagouda demanded greater representation for the Mumbai-Karnataka region, saying the party should reward loyal leaders who have strengthened the organisation rather than relying only on caste calculations.
Former minister Rahim Khan also pitched for adequate representation for minority leaders, stating that he is the only senior minority leader from the Kalyana Karnataka region. He said community leaders have sought four Cabinet berths for minorities and expressed confidence that the Congress high command would ensure balanced representation.
With senior Karnataka Congress leaders camping in Delhi and ministerial aspirants actively lobbying for positions, attention is now focused on the Congress high command, which is expected to announce its decision on the Karnataka Cabinet expansion in the coming days.
(With inputs from IANS)
