Karnataka BJP slams 'rubber stamp' Shivakumar over portfolio delay
Synopsis
Three days after Karnataka's cabinet expansion, newly sworn-in ministers still have no portfolios — and the BJP is using that gap to argue that Chief Minister Shivakumar is a 'rubber stamp' taking orders from New Delhi. With 30 women's groups demanding inclusion and disgruntled MLAs requiring personal outreach from the party in-charge, the Congress government is fighting fires on at least three fronts simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka BJP leader R.
Ashoka called CM D.K.
Shivakumar a 'rubber stamp Chief Minister' on 6 August , citing a three-day delay in portfolio allocation after cabinet expansion.
Ashoka alleged the state is being governed via 'remote control' by the Congress high command in New Delhi .
AICC Karnataka In-Charge Randeep Singh Surjewala was accused of personally visiting disgruntled MLAs to prevent the government from collapsing.
A coalition of 30 women's organisations under Naveddu Nilladiddare, Karnataka demanded the immediate induction of women ministers after none were included in the expanded cabinet.
CM Shivakumar dismissed reports of internal dissent, asserting the party remained united after talks with legislators.
The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, 6 August launched a sharp attack on the state's Congress government, accusing it of functioning under the remote control of the party's high command in New Delhi after newly inducted ministers went three days without portfolio assignments following their swearing-in.
Opposition Fires on Portfolio Delay
Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, said in a statement that three days had elapsed since the swearing-in of the new ministers, yet Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had failed to assign them any portfolios. Ashoka questioned whether Shivakumar was awaiting clearance from the Congress high command or whether the delay was because a 'decided payment' had not yet reached the relevant 'account' — a pointed insinuation of transactional politics within the ruling party.
He went further, asking whether all government files would now be dispatched to New Delhi by speed post for approval, and whether a dedicated room at Vidhana Soudha had been set aside for AICC General Secretary and Karnataka In-Charge Randeep Singh Surjewala. Ashoka called Shivakumar a 'rubber stamp Chief Minister', alleging that effective authority over Karnataka's administration had shifted to Delhi.
Surjewala in the Crosshairs
Ashoka alleged that Surjewala was personally visiting the residences of disgruntled legislators to pacify them and carrying out what he described as 'patchwork' to prevent the government from collapsing. The BJP leader claimed that the people of Karnataka have begun to recognise that the 'real government' is being run from New Delhi rather than Bengaluru.
Internal Dissent and Women's Exclusion
The criticism from the BJP comes as the Congress government faces pressure on multiple fronts following the recent cabinet expansion. A coalition of 30 women's organisations and feminist groups operating under the banner Naveddu Nilladiddare, Karnataka, wrote an open letter to Chief Minister Shivakumar on Wednesday, sharply criticising the complete exclusion of women from the newly expanded state Cabinet and demanding immediate corrective action through the induction of women ministers.
Separately, the Congress leadership has intensified efforts to contain growing dissent triggered by the cabinet reshuffle, with Shivakumar and Surjewala personally reaching out to disappointed legislators. Following talks with a senior Congress leader, Shivakumar dismissed reports of internal rebellion, asserting that the party remained united and that conversations with dissatisfied members had been held in a constructive atmosphere.
What Happens Next
The portfolio delay and the twin pressures of internal dissent and external criticism leave the Karnataka Congress government navigating a delicate political moment. How swiftly Shivakumar formalises the portfolio distribution — and whether women are included in any corrective reshuffle — will be closely watched as indicators of how much autonomy the state leadership retains.
Point of View
And the party is using it efficiently. What is more structurally significant is the women's exclusion: a coalition of 30 organisations writing an open letter is not routine noise, it is organised pressure that the Congress cannot afford to dismiss ahead of the next electoral cycle. Shivakumar's insistence that the party is 'united' is standard crisis communication, but the fact that the AICC in-charge is personally visiting MLAs' homes tells a different story. The real question is whether the portfolio distribution, when it finally comes, will reflect Bengaluru's political arithmetic or Delhi's preferences — and that answer will define how much authority the CM actually holds.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Karnataka cabinet portfolio allocation been delayed?
As of 6 August, the Karnataka government had not assigned portfolios to newly sworn-in ministers three days after the cabinet expansion, prompting opposition criticism. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has not publicly stated a specific reason for the delay.
What did BJP's R. Ashoka mean by calling Shivakumar a 'rubber stamp CM'?
BJP Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka alleged that Chief Minister Shivakumar lacks independent authority and is effectively taking orders from the Congress high command in New Delhi, rather than governing Karnataka autonomously. He used the term 'rubber stamp' to suggest Shivakumar merely ratifies decisions made elsewhere.
Why are women's groups protesting the Karnataka cabinet expansion?
A coalition of 30 women's organisations and feminist groups under the banner Naveddu Nilladiddare, Karnataka, wrote an open letter to CM Shivakumar criticising the complete exclusion of women from the newly expanded state Cabinet. They have demanded immediate corrective action through the induction of women ministers.
Is there dissent within the Karnataka Congress after the cabinet expansion?
Reports indicate growing dissatisfaction among some Congress legislators who were not accommodated in the cabinet expansion. AICC Karnataka In-Charge Randeep Singh Surjewala has reportedly been personally meeting disgruntled MLAs, though CM Shivakumar has publicly dismissed the dissent as resolved.
Who is Randeep Singh Surjewala and what is his role in Karnataka?
Randeep Singh Surjewala is the AICC General Secretary and Congress's designated Karnataka In-Charge, responsible for coordinating the party's affairs in the state. The BJP has alleged he is playing an outsized role in day-to-day governance decisions, which the Congress has not officially addressed.
