The long-awaited expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet is set to be finalised by Tuesday night, Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah indicated on 28 July, as ministerial aspirants stepped up last-minute lobbying in Delhi. A swearing-in ceremony for the new ministers is reportedly expected on Thursday.

What Siddaramaiah Said

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru — where he had returned briefly to attend the death anniversary observance of his elder son, Rakesh Siddaramaiah — the former Chief Minister confirmed that a meeting was scheduled for Tuesday night. 'Everything will probably be finalised tonight,' he said, before adding that the exact date of the expansion falls within Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's domain and that the media should seek clarification from him directly.

Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of the former Chief Minister, confirmed from Belagavi that the Congress high command had summoned key Karnataka leaders for deliberations. 'Our high command has called my father Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and other prominent leaders from the State. The matter will be discussed today, and the Cabinet will be expanded,' he said.

The Delhi Consultations

Chief Minister Shivakumar has remained in Delhi for consultations with the party leadership. According to party sources, a key meeting is scheduled in the presence of All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. If Gandhi approves the final list, the names are expected to be forwarded to the Governor's office, paving the way for the Cabinet expansion later this week.

The Shivakumar-led Cabinet currently has 20 vacant berths to be filled. Sources said the list of probable ministerial candidates has reportedly been trimmed from 43 MLAs to 29 after factoring in caste and community considerations.

New Faces Versus Experience

The Congress high command is said to be inclined towards introducing new faces, while State leaders are believed to have pushed for the reinduction of several ministers who served in Siddaramaiah's previous Cabinet. According to party insiders, of the 11 former ministers the high command had reportedly considered dropping, eight remain in contention while three have been excluded from the revised list.

Five-time Congress MLA H.C. Balakrishna, one of the aspirants, visited prominent temples including the Nanjundeshwara Temple at Nanjangud and Chamundi Hills ahead of the announcement. He claimed the party was considering a formula of inducting 40 per cent new faces and retaining 60 per cent experienced leaders. Balakrishna said he sought representation for Ramanagara district rather than a berth on account of personal proximity to the Chief Minister.

Zameer Ahmad Khan's Position

Former minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmad Khan, another aspirant, maintained in Bengaluru that he had never lobbied in Delhi for a ministerial post and would accept whatever the high command decided. Zameer acknowledged that his prospects in the first round were reportedly affected by the circulation of a purported audio clip, which he has attributed to artificial intelligence manipulation. He said he has filed a police complaint and the matter is under investigation.

What Happens Next

With the high command's final call expected Tuesday night and the swearing-in reportedly pencilled in for Thursday, the Karnataka Cabinet reshuffle — one of the most closely watched political exercises in the state this year — appears set to conclude this week. The outcome will test the Congress leadership's ability to balance caste arithmetic, regional representation, and factional demands within a coalition of competing interests.