Bengaluru, August 3: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has urged disgruntled Congress leaders to maintain patience following the recent cabinet expansion. Protests, threats of resignations, and widespread dissatisfaction have emerged among legislators who were not appointed as ministers.
In response to the growing discontent, Shivakumar acknowledged that several capable and senior legislators were left out of the cabinet and urged them not to lose hope. He stated to reporters, “I am heading to Lok Bhavan after sending the final list. There are many capable and senior leaders. I do not deny that. However, the party has to make decisions considering various factors.”
Shivakumar also shared his own experience of being overlooked for a ministerial position in the past. “I was not included in the cabinet in 2004. Even during the tenure of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, I remained out of the cabinet for a long time. I maintained my patience, and that patience is why I am in this position today,” he said.
Despite the Chief Minister’s appeal, reports of dissatisfaction continued to emerge from various parts of the state. Six-time MLA Tanveer Sait, who was not included in the cabinet, expressed deep emotions due to the support he received from party workers. “Since I was attacked, party workers have stood firmly by my side. They are praying for me. They are my strength. I will decide after consulting my supporters,” Sait remarked.
Five-time MLA Hampanagouda Badarli expressed disappointment over the lack of representation for Raichur district in the cabinet expansion, stating that senior leaders from the area were once again overlooked.
In Bengaluru, supporters of Govindarajanagar MLA Priya Krishna protested after she was not included in the cabinet. Both Priya Krishna and her father, senior Congress MLA M. Krishnappa, were in the race for ministerial positions, but neither secured a place in the cabinet expansion.
Dissatisfaction has also been reported among legislators from Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts, who are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss the lack of regional representation in the cabinet. Similarly, Congress legislators from Gadag and Vijayanagar districts have voiced their grievances, claiming their district has been ignored despite repeated demands for representation.
Ending months of speculation and prolonged political suspense, the Congress government finally decided to expand the Karnataka cabinet on Monday, with the party high command approving the inclusion of 20 legislators as ministers.
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