Bengaluru, July 21 (IANS) Karnataka Congress leaders are in Delhi to finalise the long-awaited cabinet expansion, with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expected to hold key discussions with the party high command over the next two days. The exercise, pending since Shivakumar assumed the CM’s office on June 3, is expected to conclude by the end of this week, with several senior leaders lobbying for ministerial berths.
Chief Minister Shivakumar, former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Siddaramaiah, and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday amid intensified consultations over the much-awaited cabinet expansion in Karnataka.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office, Shivakumar will stay back in Delhi. Insiders stated that he will attend meetings with the Congress high command and senior party leaders to finalise the list of ministers. Party insiders said a final decision is likely within the next one or two days, with clarity expected by Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said the cabinet expansion would take place immediately after receiving approval from the party leadership.
“The state leaders have gone to Delhi. If the high command gives its consent, the cabinet expansion exercise will happen immediately. Once the list is cleared, the Governor’s appointment will be sought, and the swearing-in ceremony will take place,” he said.
Parameshwara also indicated that the party leadership is considering multiple factors, including giving representation to younger leaders.
“I have heard that one of the criteria under consideration is providing opportunities to the younger generation of leaders. The high command has always emphasised grooming new leadership, and I believe that will be taken into account this time as well,” he added.
Several senior and emerging Congress leaders are said to be in contention for cabinet berths. Among them are seven-time MLA T.B. Jayachandra, five-time MLA H.C. Balakrishna, Shivalinge Gowda, former minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy, Gubbi Vasu, and young leader Sharat Bacche Gowda.
Other names doing the rounds include Ashok Pattan, former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, Basavaraj Rayareddy, Vijayananda Kashappanavar, Appaji Nadagouda, Hampana Gouda Badarli, and former minister Laxmi Hebbalkar.
From the minority community, senior Congress leader Rizwan Arshad, former minister Zameer Ahmad Khan, six-term MLA Tanveer Sait, Saleem Ahmad, and Kaneez Fatima are reportedly among the frontrunners, with sources indicating that up to three leaders from the community could find a place in the expanded cabinet.
Women leaders under consideration include Aarti Krishna, Kaneez Fatima, Laxmi Hebbalkar, Umashree, and Nayana Motamma, who is being seen as a young face for the future.
Leaders from other communities, including A.S. Ponnanna of the Kodava community and H.C. Mahadevappa, Raghu Murthy, and Kampli Ganesh representing Scheduled Castes and other backward sections, are also being discussed.
Senior Congress leaders Dinesh Gundu Rao, R.V. Deshpande, and H.K. Patil are also being considered for key roles, with speculation continuing over the possibility of appointments to constitutional positions, including Speaker.
It can be noted that 20 ministerial positions are still vacant and the ruling party is under fire from the opposition.
–IANS
mka/dpb