Karnataka Congress leaders intensified efforts to pacify legislators denied ministerial positions following the induction of 19 new ministers. While one MLA withdrew his resignation, several disappointed legislators were preparing to meet and discuss their next course of action.
Karnataka Congress Launches Outreach After Cabinet Expansion
The Karnataka Congress intensified efforts to contain internal dissatisfaction after 19 legislators were inducted into Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s ministry on Monday. Several senior MLAs denied Cabinet positions expressed disappointment, while protests by supporters added pressure on the leadership.
Shivakumar and Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala met upset legislators in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Karnataka Congress president B K Hariprasad and several ministers were also assigned to contact senior leaders and persuade them to accept the party’s decision. The ministry now has 33 members against a permitted strength of 34, leaving one position vacant.
Resignation Withdrawn After Leadership Talks
Indi MLA Yashavantarayagouda V Patil withdrew the resignation he submitted after missing out on a ministerial berth. Reports said he wrote to the Assembly Secretary following discussions with Shivakumar and other ministers. Patil had submitted his resignation on Monday after being excluded from the expanded ministry.
Gubbi MLA S R Srinivas adopted a more conciliatory position after meeting the Chief Minister, though he remained disappointed. Ministers separately met former minister T B Jayachandra and Bengaluru legislators M Krishnappa and Priya Krishna. Shivakumar and Surjewala later visited Krishnappa’s residence for further talks.
Disgruntled MLAs Consider Joint Meeting
Despite the outreach, several legislators were preparing to meet and decide their next move. Bangarpete MLA Narayanaswamy said more than 30 like-minded MLAs who did not receive Cabinet positions could hold discussions soon.
Jayachandra acknowledged differences within the party but said they should be resolved internally. Hariprasad expressed confidence that the dispute would be settled, while admitting that several senior leaders had missed the opportunity to join the government.
The discontent also triggered complaints about regional representation. Some legislators argued that districts such as Kolar and Chikkaballapur had not received adequate representation in the expanded ministry.
Congress Works To Prevent Wider Fallout
The controversy followed Shivakumar’s warning that resignations submitted over Cabinet berths could be accepted quickly. At the same time, he asked legislators to remain patient and indicated that appointments to state-run boards and corporations would be considered.
Speculation also surrounded former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s absence from Monday’s swearing-in ceremony. Party leaders said he missed the event because it coincided with his birthday, although reports suggested he was unhappy that some recommendations were not included in the final list. With one Cabinet position vacant, the Congress leadership must balance regional, community and seniority demands. Its immediate priority is to prevent disappointed legislators from turning their grievances into an organised challenge to the Shivakumar government.
