Bengaluru, 03 August (H.S) :
Two months after D.K. Shivakumar assumed office as Karnataka Chief Minister, the Congress on Monday announced a major expansion of his Cabinet, inducting 20 legislators and filling all available ministerial positions in the State government.
The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place on August 3, taking the strength of the Council of Ministers to its full sanctioned capacity. The expansion comes after weeks of intense consultations within the Congress leadership, with the final list reportedly undergoing multiple revisions before it was made public.
The new Cabinet includes a blend of experienced leaders and fresh faces. Ten legislators will become Ministers for the first time, while seven members who served in former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet are making a return to the government. Party leaders said the exercise was aimed at striking a balance between experience, regional representation and social diversity.
There was considerable speculation that the Congress high command might leave a couple of ministerial berths vacant to accommodate future political adjustments. However, the party eventually decided to utilise the entire Cabinet quota.
In a dramatic development, the list released by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) earlier in the day was revised within hours. The name of Mankal Vaidya was dropped and replaced by senior Congress leader S.S. Mallikarjun, highlighting the intense internal deliberations that preceded the final announcement.
Among those entering the Cabinet for the first time are P.M. Narendraswamy, Rizwan Arshad, Dr. Ajay Singh, T. Raghumurthy, H.C. Balakrishna, K.S. Basavanthappa, K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, Vijayanand Kashappanavar, Rudrappa Lamani and A.V. Gayatri Shanthegowda. The appointments reflect representation across key communities, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Muslims, Vokkaligas, Lingayats and Banjaras.
A.V. Gayatri Shanthegowda’s induction is particularly significant. She came into prominence after successfully challenging the election of M.K. Pranaesh to the Karnataka Legislative Council from the Chikkamagaluru Local Authorities’ constituency. Her legal battle resulted in the segregation of votes cast by nominated members, ultimately leading to her being declared the winner. The Supreme Court later upheld the principle that nominated members of local bodies do not possess voting rights in such elections.
The Cabinet expansion is expected to strengthen the Shivakumar government while addressing regional and community aspirations within the ruling Congress.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
