Karnataka Cabinet expansion: Muslim leaders push for Saleem Ahmed's berth
Synopsis
As Karnataka's Cabinet expansion nears, a delegation of Muslim religious leaders has directly lobbied Chief Minister Shivakumar for three to five ministerial posts — spotlighting a community that has reportedly gone without Cabinet representation from the Kittur Karnataka region for nearly two decades. With 20 vacancies still to fill and multiple claimants pressing their cases, the expansion is shaping up as a defining political test for Shivakumar.
Key Takeaways
A delegation of Muslim religious leaders met CM D.K.
Shivakumar on 22 June in Bengaluru , demanding the induction of MLC Saleem Ahmed into the Karnataka Cabinet.
The delegation sought 3 to 5 ministerial posts for Muslim leaders, citing nearly two decades of no Cabinet representation from the Kittur Karnataka region.
Saleem Ahmed is a three-time MLC with close to 50 years of association with the Congress .
Of the Cabinet's 34 total positions , 13 have been filled; 20 vacancies remain to be decided.
Senior Congress MLA Vijayananda Kashappanavar also staked a personal claim for a ministerial berth.
Internal dissent over portfolio allocations among three sitting ministers has reportedly been resolved after party high command intervention.
Lobbying for ministerial positions in the upcoming Karnataka Cabinet expansion intensified on Monday, 22 June, as a delegation of Muslim religious leaders met Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in Bengaluru and pressed for the induction of senior Indian National Congress (Congress) leader and MLC Saleem Ahmed into the Council of Ministers.
What the Delegation Demanded
Syed Tajuddin Khadri, Convenor of the All Karnataka Sunni Mashayikh Council, told reporters that the Muslim community has been without Cabinet representation from the Kittur Karnataka region for nearly two decades. The delegation submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Shivakumar and separately met former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), to reinforce the same demand.
Khadri said the delegation was seeking between three and five ministerial posts for Muslim leaders, though he acknowledged the final call rested with the party high command. 'It is for the party high command to decide. They know who has worked for the party and who deserves to be considered,' he said.
Why Saleem Ahmed
Saleem Ahmed is a three-time MLC with nearly 50 years of association with the Congress. Delegation member Syed Hyder Pasha Khadri from Vijayapura described Ahmed as the backbone of large-scale programmes dedicated to Sufi saints across North Karnataka — events that, he argued, promoted communal harmony and the teachings of social reformer Basavanna. 'We are spreading a message of love and harmony. Religious leaders from various mutts and lakhs of people have participated in these programmes,' Pasha Khadri said.
The delegation also met Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad and submitted a memorandum seeking ministerial representation for Ahmed and other Muslim leaders.
Historical Precedent Cited
Khadri pointed to the tenure of former Chief Minister late S.M. Krishna, during which five Muslim leaders held Cabinet positions. He noted that Shivakumar himself was regarded as Krishna's trusted lieutenant during that administration — an implicit appeal to the Chief Minister's sense of continuity and political obligation.
Other Claimants and Internal Dissent
The lobbying was not limited to the Muslim delegation. Senior Congress MLA Vijayananda Kashappanavar also met Chief Minister Shivakumar at his Bengaluru residence, staking a claim for a Cabinet berth and urging the party leadership to consider his name in at least the second list of ministerial appointments.
Separately, Minister for Bengaluru Development Krishna Byre Gowda, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies K.H. Muniyappa, and Minister for Transport and Muzrai Ramalinga Reddy — who had reportedly raised concerns over portfolio allocations — appear to have resolved their differences following intervention by the party high command. With internal dissent reportedly contained, Shivakumar is now expected to proceed with the expansion, which is being widely seen as a significant test of his leadership.
At present, 13 Cabinet positions have been filled, with the remaining 20 vacancies expected to be finalised in the coming days.
Point of View
Lingayats, and OBC groups who are watching the expansion equally closely. The invocation of the S.M. Krishna era — when five Muslim ministers served — is a shrewd historical anchor, but that Cabinet operated in a very different political landscape. The real question is whether the Congress high command will use this expansion to shore up minority consolidation ahead of future elections, or play it safe with numerically dominant caste blocs.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Karnataka Cabinet expansion and when is it expected?
The Karnataka Cabinet expansion refers to the filling of the remaining 20 ministerial vacancies in Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's government, with 13 positions already filled. The expansion is expected to be finalised in the coming days following a round of intensive lobbying by various community groups and MLAs.
Who is Saleem Ahmed and why is he being considered for the Karnataka Cabinet?
Saleem Ahmed is a senior Congress leader and three-time Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) with nearly 50 years of association with the party. Muslim religious leaders are lobbying for his inclusion citing his long service to the party, his role in promoting communal harmony through large-scale events in North Karnataka, and the absence of a Muslim minister from the Kittur Karnataka region for nearly two decades.
How many Cabinet berths are Muslim leaders demanding in Karnataka?
The All Karnataka Sunni Mashayikh Council delegation has demanded between three and five ministerial posts for Muslim leaders. The delegation's convenor Syed Tajuddin Khadri said the final number would be decided by the Congress party high command.
Has there been internal dissent within the Karnataka Congress over the Cabinet expansion?
Yes. Ministers Krishna Byre Gowda, K.H. Muniyappa, and Ramalinga Reddy had reportedly raised concerns over portfolio allocations. According to reports, their differences have since been resolved following intervention by the party high command, clearing the path for CM Shivakumar to proceed with the expansion.
What historical precedent did the Muslim delegation cite in their demand?
The delegation pointed to the tenure of former Chief Minister late S.M. Krishna, during which five Muslim leaders held Cabinet positions in Karnataka. They also noted that CM Shivakumar himself was a key figure in that administration, implicitly urging him to uphold that tradition of representation.
