Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru to discuss the pending State Cabinet expansion and Congress party reorganization. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara also attended the meeting. Shivakumar updated Kharge on recent talks in New Delhi with Rahul Gandhi and other leaders regarding the Cabinet expansion plans.
The Congress government in Karnataka currently operates with 14 ministers, leaving 20 Cabinet positions vacant. Over 40 senior leaders are competing for ministerial roles, emphasizing regional representation, caste dynamics, and political factors. The delay in the decision-making process has kept aspirants waiting, with optimism that a resolution will come after consultations with all stakeholders.
The Cabinet expansion was halted as the Congress leadership postponed a decision following Kharge’s unexpected return to Bengaluru. High-level meetings in New Delhi involving Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, and KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad did not yield a consensus. The Congress plans a significant organizational overhaul in Karnataka, intending to replace all district Congress presidents across the state.
AICC observers will visit each district for feedback before finalizing appointments. The leadership aims to offer opportunities to loyal party workers, distancing from local power influences. The restructuring process will extend to vice presidents and state general secretaries. AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal is set to meet with Chief Minister Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru on July 26 to discuss the Cabinet expansion and organizational restructuring, shaping the party’s political strategy in Karnataka.
