Congress Women MLAs Demand At Least Two Cabinet Berths In New Karnataka Government
BENGALURU — Women legislators from the Congress party have demanded at least two ministerial berths in the upcoming Karnataka government, pointing to historical under-representation in the state cabinet.
The legislators highlighted that the outgoing government included only one woman, Laxmi Hebbalkar, in the cabinet, despite the party having five women Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
The demand comes amid renewed national discussions regarding women’s representation in governance. According to the legislators, Karnataka has historically had a poor record in this area, making the composition of the new cabinet particularly significant.
Laxmi Hebbalkar, who served as the sole woman in the previous cabinet, supported the demand. She stated that with the ongoing national debate surrounding the 33 percent reservation for women, it is the appropriate time to increase their representation in the state cabinet. Hebbalkar expressed confidence that the Congress party high command would ultimately induct more than two women into the new ministry. She also dismissed ongoing speculation that she was personally seeking the position of deputy chief minister.
Other women MLAs have also spoken out in favor of the demand. Motamma, the MLA for Nayana Mudigere, stated that increasing the number of women in the cabinet would reflect positively on the party and reinforce its commitment to female empowerment.
M Roopakala Shashidhar, the MLA for KGF, and Kaneez Fathima, the MLA for Gulbarga North, are both considered strong contenders for the ministerial berths. Both legislators have backed the call for greater opportunities for women within the state administration. Fathima confirmed that she has officially thrown her hat in the ring to secure a cabinet position.
The debate over representation follows recent legislative developments. While the Congress party supported the federal Women's Reservation Act passed in 2023, it recently opposed the NDA government's Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which tied women's reservation to the delimitation and expansion of Lok Sabha seats.
