Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday to finalise the long-pending Karnataka cabinet expansion, with party insiders indicating a decision is likely within one or two days. The exercise has been pending since Shivakumar assumed the Chief Minister's office on 3 June, leaving 20 ministerial positions vacant — a gap that has drawn sustained criticism from the opposition.

Key Arrivals and Consultations

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad also travelled to Delhi alongside Shivakumar and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Siddaramaiah. According to the Chief Minister's Office, Shivakumar will remain in Delhi to attend a series of meetings with the Congress high command and senior party leaders aimed at finalising the ministerial list. Sources within the party said clarity on the list is expected by Wednesday.

What the Deputy CM Said

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara confirmed the expansion would proceed immediately upon receiving the high command's approval. 'The state leaders have gone to Delhi. If the high command gives its consent, the cabinet expansion exercise will happen immediately. Once the list is cleared, the Governor's appointment will be sought, and the swearing-in ceremony will take place,' he said. Parameshwara also noted that providing opportunities to younger leaders is reportedly among the criteria under active consideration.

Names in Contention

Several senior and emerging Congress figures are said to be lobbying for ministerial berths. Among those being discussed are seven-time MLA T.B. Jayachandra, five-time MLA H.C. Balakrishna, Shivalinge Gowda, former minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy, Gubbi Vasu, and young leader Sharat Bacche Gowda. Other names reportedly in the frame include Ashok Pattan, former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, Basavaraj Rayareddy, Vijayananda Kashappanavar, Appaji Nadagouda, Hampana Gouda Badarli, and former minister Laxmi Hebbalkar.

From the minority community, senior Congress leader Rizwan Arshad, former minister Zameer Ahmad Khan, six-term MLA Tanveer Sait, Saleem Ahmad, and Kaneez Fatima are reportedly among the frontrunners. Sources indicate that up to three leaders from the community could secure cabinet positions. Women leaders under consideration include Aarti Krishna, Kaneez Fatima, Laxmi Hebbalkar, Umashree, and Nayana Motamma.

Leaders representing Scheduled Castes and other backward sections — including H.C. Mahadevappa, Raghu Murthy, and Kampli Ganesh — are also being discussed, as is A.S. Ponnanna of the Kodava community. Senior Congress figures Dinesh Gundu Rao, R.V. Deshpande, and H.K. Patil are also being considered for key roles, with speculation over possible appointments to constitutional positions including Speaker.

Political Pressure and What Comes Next

With 20 cabinet seats unfilled for weeks, the ruling Congress has faced mounting pressure from the opposition over the delay. The expansion, once the high command clears the list, will require a formal appointment from the Governor before a swearing-in ceremony can be scheduled. This comes amid broader questions about coalition management within the Karnataka Congress, where balancing caste, community, seniority, and generational representation has complicated the finalisation process.