DK Shivakumar to Allocate Portfolios to 19 Karnataka Ministers Before August 13 Session

Speaking to reporters in Kolar on Monday, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar indicated that portfolio allocations for 19 newly inducted ministers will be finalized at the earliest before the commencement of the monsoon legislature session. Official sources stated that the portfolio allocation is most likely to be finalized on Tuesday, completing the process following the cabinet expansion conducted last week.

Shivakumar made the statement after returning from New Delhi, where he held discussions with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and party General Secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal. The Chief Minister confirmed he had discussed the pending allocations with the party high command on Sunday evening before returning to the state.

Addressing queries regarding whether additional legislators might be accommodated in the cabinet, Shivakumar stated that any discussions on further ministerial posts would occur only after the Assembly session concludes. He emphasized that current focus remains exclusively on distributing portfolios to the newly sworn-in ministers before the legislative session begins. The monsoon session of the Karnataka legislature is scheduled to take place from August 13 to 27.

The Chief Minister had expanded his Cabinet on August 3, two months after assuming office, by inducting 19 new ministers. That move brought the cabinet's total strength to 33 members, leaving one berth vacant. However, the expansion left several senior legislators and ministerial aspirants disgruntled.

To address the growing discontent, Shivakumar, KPCC President B K Hariprasad, AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, and select ministers have reached out to various uninducted lawmakers in an effort to pacify them over the past few days. Sources indicate that discussions with the Delhi leadership also touched upon this disgruntlement and the possibility of a minor cabinet reshuffle by replacing a couple of incumbent ministers to make room for miffed lawmakers.

Furthermore, with no women currently represented in the Karnataka cabinet, pressure has been mounting on the Chief Minister to fill the single remaining vacant berth with a woman minister.