Karnataka Cabinet expansion likely on August 3 as Congress leadership works on ensuring  regional, caste, community and gender balance

The much-awaited expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet has been put off further and is now likely by August 3, with the Congress high command expected to finalise the list of new Ministers by August 2 after more rounds of consultations in New Delhi.

The exercise of drawing up a list, on for three consecutive days in the national capital, has been held up over differences within the party leadership on the final composition of the Cabinet.

According to party sources, discussions among Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah centred on ensuring regional, caste, community and gender balance.

Muslim and women quota

Sources said the inclusion of Muslim and women legislators figured prominently in the deliberations. The names of Rizwan Arshad, Kaneez Fatima, and Tanveer Sait are learnt to have been debated, while Mr. Shivakumar is understood to have favoured the induction of Laxmi Hebbalkar. The pros and cons of including B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan, accused of anti-party activities, apart from several new faces such as Sharath Bache Gowda, was also among the issues discussed.

After two days of consultations, Mr. Shivakumar had a one-on-one meeting with Mr. Siddaramaiah at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday, before the two leaders, accompanied by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president B.K. Hariprasad, held another round of discussions with the party leadership at Mr. Kharge’s residence.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Mr. Siddaramaiah, Mr. Shivakumar said, “Everything has been finalised.”

However, sources said the final list would require the approval of the Congress high command — Mr. Kharge and Mr. Gandhi — before being formally communicated to the Chief Minister. The list is expected to be cleared by Sunday, paving the way for the swearing-in ceremony on Monday.

Sources said the Congress leadership is expected to induct around 18 legislators in the expansion, with emphasis on maintaining social and regional representation, including adequate representation for AHINDA communities, women and younger legislators. The leadership is also seeking to strike a balance between legislators considered close to Mr. Shivakumar and those aligned with Mr. Siddaramaiah.

The Chief Minister, Mr. Siddaramaiah, and Mr. Hariprasad spent the last two days waiting to meet Mr. Gandhi. While Mr. Gandhi was busy last week with the students’ protest, the Parliament session and his press conference over the NEET paper leak controversy kept him occupied on Wednesday.

Mr. Shivakumar returned to Bengaluru on Thursday night while Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Hariprasad continued to stay in Delhi.

Opposition criticism

The delay has drawn criticism from the BJP, which has accused the Congress government of spending several days in New Delhi without concluding the expansion exercise.

The BJP has also questioned the delay in allocating several key portfolios more than 50 days after the formation of the government.

Responding to the criticism in Delhi, Mr. Shivakumar hit back and said, “Didn’t B.S. Yediyurappa also run the administration without forming a Cabinet?”