New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is expected to arrive in New Delhi late Sunday evening, sparking speculation that his visit will involve discussions with the Congress high command regarding portfolio allocations for the newly inducted ministers.
According to his disclosed travel itinerary, Shivakumar is scheduled to meet with senior Supreme Court advocates at Karnataka Bhavan upon his arrival in the national capital. His return schedule to Bengaluru remains unspecified.
Party insiders suggest that a key purpose of Shivakumar’s Delhi visit is to confer with the Congress high command on distributing portfolios among the 19 ministers who joined his cabinet on August 3. These discussions are also anticipated to address the grievances of legislators who were not given ministerial positions, particularly senior figures excluded from the recent cabinet expansion.
Over the past three to four days, Shivakumar, along with KPCC president B K Hariprasad, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, and several ministers, have been actively engaging with sidelined legislators in an attempt to mollify them. On Sunday, Shivakumar met with senior MLA and former minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.
Reports from sources indicate that Shivakumar might be considering a minor cabinet reshuffle, potentially replacing a couple of existing ministers to accommodate disgruntled lawmakers who continue to seek ministerial berths. However, there has been no official confirmation of such a move.
Furthermore, with no women currently represented in his cabinet, there is growing pressure on Shivakumar to fill the sole vacant ministerial position with a woman.
Party sources indicate that the Chief Minister aims to complete these crucial exercises before the state Legislature’s monsoon session commences on August 13.
Two months after assuming office, Shivakumar expanded his cabinet on August 3, bringing the total strength to 33 ministers, with one position still remaining vacant.
