Karnataka Cabinet expansion postponed, likely before August 6 Assembly session

The Karnataka Cabinet will not be expanded immediately, despite a crucial meeting in New Delhi to discuss the issue. However, AICC in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala said the expansion is likely to take place before the Assembly session beginning August 6.

Although Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC president BK Hariprasad held discussions with senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, no final decision was taken on inducting new ministers.

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Addressing reporters after the meeting, Surjewala said the discussions were only preliminary and indicated that the Cabinet expansion would happen soon. Asked when the expansion would take place, Surjewala said it is likely to happen before the state Assembly session scheduled to begin on August 6.

Was Kharge’s absence the reason?

The Congress has witnessed intense political activity over the past few days over the filling of around 20 vacant berths in the Karnataka Cabinet. There were also expectations that the final list of new ministers would be approved. However, following the meeting, the process has been deferred for the time being.

Speaking after the meeting, KPCC chief Hariprasad said the next round of discussions had been postponed because AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge was not in Delhi. He said a fresh meeting would be held after Kharge's return, following which a final decision would be taken.

However, political circles are debating whether Kharge’s absence alone is the real reason behind the delay in the Cabinet expansion.

Intense competition for Cabinet berths

One of the key reasons for the delay is the intense competition for ministerial positions. More than 70 Congress MLAs are reportedly in the race for around 20 vacant Cabinet berths.

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and former CM Siddaramaiah are learnt to have separately submitted the names of their preferred candidates to the party high command. With senior state leaders and the Congress leadership holding differing views, striking a balance that accommodates all interests has emerged as a major challenge for the party.

Calculations to avoid discontent

The Cabinet expansion is not merely an administrative exercise to fill vacant positions. It is also a politically significant decision aimed at maintaining a balance among regional, caste, organisational and factional interests within the party.

The Congress high command faces the challenge of deciding who should be inducted into the Cabinet and who should be left out without triggering dissatisfaction. As a result, the leadership is expected to carefully examine the various recommendations and hold another round of discussions before finalising and announcing the list of new ministers.

MLAs continue to wait

Several Congress MLAs had travelled to Delhi in the hope that a final decision on the Cabinet expansion would be announced. However, with no announcement being made, they have returned to Bengaluru.

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According to party sources, the high command is likely to hold another meeting within the next one or two weeks. It is expected to take a final call on the Cabinet expansion during that meeting.

With the Assembly session scheduled to begin on August 6, the Congress leadership is expected to complete the Cabinet expansion before the session, in line with Surjewala’s indication, though the final decision will depend on the outcome of the next round of discussions.

(This article was originally published in The Federal Karnataka.)