Congress Approves 20 New Ministers for Karnataka Cabinet

The Congress high command has given the green signal to induct 20 new ministers into the Karnataka cabinet, completing the state cabinet formation exercise. This move comes exactly two months after Chief Minister D K Shivakumar took oath with 13 ministers on June 3.

The party has also approved the election of a new Speaker and Deputy Speaker for the Legislative Assembly, as well as the appointment of a new Chairman and Deputy Chairman for the Legislative Council. The list of new ministers includes PM Narendraswamy, Shivaraj Tangadagi, Rudrappa Lamani, and KS Basavanthappa, among others.

There were over 60 aspirants for the 20 vacant posts, leading to pressure from AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to accommodate their supporters in the cabinet. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's list was also taken into consideration, along with Rahul Gandhi's opinion that 40% of the cabinet should be represented by young, first-time elected members.

However, senior party leaders were cautious about having a large number of inexperienced members as ministers, and it took time for the AICC core group to convince Rahul Gandhi to limit the number of newcomers. As a result, only a few new faces have been included in the cabinet.

The list of ministers suggests that D K Shivakumar has had a significant influence on the selection process, with several of his supporters making it to the cabinet. B Nagendra, who is facing a charge sheet in the ₹ 83 crore Valmiki Nigam Limited scam, has also found a place in the cabinet, along with Madhu Bangarappa, who was previously in the eye of the storm over issues in the primary education department.

The cabinet expansion is expected to bring the government to full strength, with the new ministers set to take oath soon. The move is seen as a significant development in Karnataka politics, with the Congress party aiming to strengthen its position in the state.

The Karnataka cabinet expansion has been a long-awaited move, with the Congress party taking its time to finalize the list of ministers. The party has had to balance the interests of various factions and leaders, while also ensuring that the cabinet is representative of the state's diverse population.

The inclusion of new ministers is expected to bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the government, while also providing opportunities for young and experienced leaders to contribute to the state's development. The Congress party is hoping that the cabinet expansion will help to boost its popularity and performance in the state.

The Karnataka government has been facing several challenges, including issues related to education, healthcare, and infrastructure. The new ministers will be expected to work closely with the Chief Minister and other officials to address these challenges and deliver on the party's promises.

In conclusion, the Congress party's approval of 20 new ministers for the Karnataka cabinet marks a significant development in the state's politics. The move is expected to bring stability and strength to the government, while also providing opportunities for new leaders to emerge and contribute to the state's development.