One month after D.K. Shivakumar was sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka on 3 June, the state government continues to operate with just 13 ministers — leaving 20 Cabinet berths unfilled out of a constitutionally permitted strength of 34. The prolonged Cabinet vacuum, driven by intense political calculations and factional lobbying within the ruling Indian National Congress (INC), has left several critical departments without dedicated ministerial oversight.

The Delay and Its Causes

Shivakumar's elevation to the top post followed a protracted power-sharing contest with his predecessor Siddaramaiah, who has since been inducted into the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and has largely maintained public silence on the Cabinet deadlock. Senior Congress leaders who are aspirants for ministerial berths have similarly refrained from openly voicing dissatisfaction, even as the wait drags on.

Party insiders say the central leadership is in no hurry, fearing that accommodating some leaders while excluding others could trigger internal dissidence. With only 20 vacancies available and multiple senior legislators vying for key portfolios, the leadership is also reportedly weighing the induction of new faces alongside experienced lawmakers.

Governance Under Strain

The incomplete Cabinet has placed a disproportionate burden on the existing ministers at a time when Karnataka is grappling with a severe drought, law and order pressures, and a backlog of administrative decisions. Senior ministers Krishna Byre Gowda, Ramalinga Reddy, and K.H. Muniyappa — who had earlier openly expressed unhappiness over portfolio allotments — have since pivoted to governance responsibilities.

Political observers argue that effective administration cannot rest on a Chief Minister and a handful of ministers, particularly when several important portfolios continue to await full-time political stewardship.

Controversies in the First Month

The government has also had to navigate a series of political flashpoints. Ministers including Priyank Kharge, M.B. Patil, and Krishna Byre Gowda have defended the administration against criticism over rising crime, controversy surrounding Kharge's remarks on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) allegations of government interference in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

A separate political flashpoint has emerged over the proposed Bidadi Township project near Bengaluru, where Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Chief Minister Shivakumar have been at loggerheads. In a gesture seen as projecting internal unity, Shivakumar visited Siddaramaiah's Bengaluru residence — accompanied by his wife Usha Shivakumar and brother, former MP D.K. Suresh — to mark the completion of his first month in office, where the two leaders held a breakfast meeting to discuss state political developments.

Policy Announcements Despite Cabinet Gaps

Notwithstanding the incomplete Cabinet, the Shivakumar government has rolled out a string of policy initiatives. These include free bus passes for all students across Karnataka, the establishment of Bharat Jodo Youth Associations in every gram panchayat and urban ward with a grant of ₹10 lakh each, exemption from Occupancy Certificates for permanent electricity connections for new residential buildings up to 2,500 sq ft, and a statewide conversion of 'B' Khata properties to 'A' Khata.

Other major announcements include a ₹2,000 crore programme to make Bengaluru's roads pothole-free, the launch of a Private Sector Employment Exchange, a six-month deadline to fill 72,000 government vacancies, and a proposal for a dedicated 'Praja Seve' (Public Service) Ministry to address public grievances. The government has also initiated re-verification of beneficiaries under its flagship guarantee schemes and is considering a revision of RTC bus fares amid mounting fiscal pressures.

Opposition Pressure and What Comes Next

BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra has alleged that Shivakumar is using the SIR exercise as a pretext to delay the expansion. 'The Chief Minister knows the reality that if the Cabinet is expanded, the very foundation of this government will be shaken. That is why he is using the SIR exercise as an excuse,' Vijayendra alleged.

With elections to urban local bodies and other local government institutions approaching, the timing of the Cabinet expansion carries increasing political weight. The Congress leadership is attempting to balance two competing imperatives: strengthening governance through additional ministers, and managing internal party dynamics without triggering a fresh wave of dissatisfaction.