The political turmoil came as 19 legislators took oath as ministers. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s government functioned with 20 vacant Cabinet positions since he assumed office on June 3. The expansion followed weeks of consultations between the state leadership and the Congress high command amid intense lobbying by about 45 aspirants for the available berths.
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The day’s developments were marked by last-minute changes to the list approved by the AICC. Bhatkal MLA Mankala Vaidya was replaced by Davanagere North MLA SS Mallikarjun, while MLC Gayathri Shanthe Gowda was dropped shortly before the swearing-in ceremony. The Congress did not explain the changes. Party sources said Shivakumar and former CM Siddaramaiah came under intense pressure from rival aspirants over Gowda’s inclusion.
Sagar MLA Belur Gopalakrishna said he would resign from the Assembly on Tuesday, questioning whether cabinet berths were reserved only for the sons of former CMs and ministers. Indi MLA Yashavantharayagouda Patil submitted his resignation to the Speaker, while several disappointed legislators said they would quit their posts as chairpersons of boards and corporations.
The disappointment spilled onto the streets. Bagepalli MLA SS Subba Reddy switched off his phone after learning he had been overlooked, while his supporters called for a bandh in the town on August 5. Chintamani MLA MC Sudhakar expressed disappointment that the Kolar-Chikkaballapur districts remained unrepresented, while Gandhinagar MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao said he felt deeply disappointed at being denied a renomination.
Also Read: Karnataka cabinet expansion: DK Shivakumar inducts B Nagendra, Zameer Khan, Rizwan Arshad among 20 new ministersSupporters of Bangarpet MLA SN Narayanaswamy, Sindhanur MLA Hampanagouda Badarli and Koppal MLA Raghavendra Hitnal staged protests, while a supporter of Mysuru MLA Tanveer Sait allegedly attempted suicide.
According to party sources, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked the CM to pacify disgruntled legislators by offering them chairmanships of boards and corporations with cabinet rank. Leaders unwilling to accept the compromise could be allowed to resign, sources said.
Appealing for patience, Shivakumar said every legislator would get an opportunity in due course. Recalling his own political journey, the CM said he was not inducted into the cabinet in 2004 and had to wait after the Congress came to power in 2013. His patience and attitude eventually paid off with the CM position coming his way, he said.
The Congress leadership also finalised names for key legislative posts. Ron MLA GS Patil has been nominated as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna as Deputy Speaker, senior MLC Saleem Ahmed as Chairman of the Legislative Council and Umashree as Deputy Chairperson. Senior BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar criticised the AICC for announcing the names of presiding officers, saying the move set an unhealthy precedent.
The new cabinet reflects the Congress’ attempt to balance regional and community representation, with strong representation from Lingayat and Vokkaliga leaders, while several ministers from the previous Siddaramaiah government were dropped in the reshuffle.
