BENGALURU — Ending weeks of intense speculation, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday announced that the much-anticipated expansion of his state cabinet will be finalised within this week following crucial high-level consultations in New Delhi.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru shortly before boarding a flight to the national capital, Shivakumar addressed the media’s growing curiosity over the delayed cabinet exercise.
"You in the media seem to be in a big hurry," Shivakumar remarked with a smile. "I think within this week, I will finalise the entire exercise."
Delhi Summit with Congress Top Brass
The Chief Minister’s trip to New Delhi marks the second leg of negotiations with the Congress central leadership. Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad are expected to join Shivakumar on Tuesday to hammer out the final line-up with the party’s high command.
An earlier round of discussions scheduled in Delhi last week was unexpectedly derailed when senior leaders—including Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge—were tied up with nationwide protests outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence over police action against NEET candidates.
With those disruptions behind them, state leaders are now set to lock in the final names. Since taking oath on June 3 alongside 13 ministers—following Siddaramaiah's resignation on May 28—Shivakumar has governed with a heavily truncated team. With a maximum permissible cabinet strength of 34, 20 berths remain up for grabs, triggering intense lobbying among party legislators.
Party insiders concede that finalizing the list is a high-wire act for Shivakumar and the high command. Beyond managing personal ambitions to prevent post-induction disgruntlement, the leadership must delicately balance complex regional representations and caste equations across the state.
State Water Crises and Inter-State River Disputes on Delhi Agenda
Beyond internal party affairs, Shivakumar's Delhi itinerary includes high-stakes administrative meetings. He is scheduled to brief Karnataka Parliamentarians on urgent state issues to ensure a unified voice during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
"There is a pressing need to make our MPs aware of the current drought and water security situation in the state," Shivakumar stated. He highlighted that key inter-state river disputes—including pending clearances and allocations involving the Cauvery, Mahadayi, and Krishna river basins, alongside the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project—will be placed before Union Ministers and senior legal counsel during his visit.
Upon his return to Bengaluru, Shivakumar plans to convene an all-party meeting featuring former chief ministers and opposition leaders to brief them on the outcome of the Delhi discussions and build a consensus on Karnataka's long-term water management strategy.
