BENGALURU: The Congress high command, which reportedly asked Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar not to entertain lobbying by party legislators for ministerial posts, is likely to take a decision on cabinet expansion on its own without holding any consultations with state party leaders.
“AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge of party affairs Randeep Singh Surjewala has prepared the list after taking suggestions from party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Shivakumar, and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Now, it is only a formality to announce the names after obtaining the approval of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi,” sources told The New Indian Express. Rahul is expected to return to India on July 3 or 4.
Surjewala knows the ground reality and is aware of whose elevation as ministers will help the Congress in the 2028 Assembly elections in Karnataka, sources said. “That is why the top brass is unlikely to summon any leader to Delhi to discuss the cabinet expansion,” the sources added.
However, Shivakumar, who shares a good rapport with Surjewala, is likely to have an edge in pushing for young and new faces, as Rahul Gandhi is also believed to share the same view.
“There are 20 vacancies. At least 15 will be filled by new faces while maintaining a balance in terms of caste and regional representation,” party insiders said.
More than 50 ministerial aspirants, who had been openly sponsoring demonstrations by their supporters and lobbying for cabinet berths, have now stopped doing so. However, some of them have continued their efforts by meeting senior leaders of the party high command confidentially in Delhi, an MLA told The New Indian Express.
If all goes as planned, the expansion of the Shivakumar cabinet is expected to take place by July 10, ahead of the monsoon session of the legislature, which is likely to begin in the third week of July.
