Karnataka cabinet expansion: CM Shivakumar heads to Delhi to meet Congress leadership
Synopsis
Karnataka's cabinet has sat half-empty for over a month — 20 of 34 posts unfilled since June 3. Now CM Shivakumar is heading to Delhi with an open return ticket, Siddaramaiah's camp is lobbying hard, and the Congress high command is weighing two additional Deputy CM posts. A decision is expected by Tuesday evening, but factional and community arithmetic could still upend the final list.
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar departs for New Delhi on 27 July to meet Congress leadership; return date is open-ended.
The Karnataka government has operated with only 14 ministers , leaving 20 cabinet positions vacant since 3 June .
A final decision on the cabinet list is reportedly expected by Tuesday evening .
The Congress high command is considering creating two additional Deputy Chief Minister posts alongside incumbent Deputy CM G.
Former CM Siddaramaiah and KPCC President B.K.
Hariprasad are also expected to travel to Delhi for the final consultations.
The earlier expansion was deferred after AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge left for a family emergency and amid NEET protest-related political developments.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is set to fly to New Delhi on Monday, 27 July, where he is scheduled to meet senior Congress leadership on Tuesday. His return date has been left open, a detail that political observers say underscores the gravity of the visit as the long-delayed Karnataka cabinet expansion finally appears to be closing in on a resolution.
Key Developments
Shivakumar is slated to depart Bengaluru International Airport at 9 am on July 27. His itinerary includes meetings with senior advocates on pending state government matters, followed by an evening round of consultations with Union ministers and Members of Parliament from Karnataka. Several ministerial aspirants have already made their way to the national capital to lobby the party high command, signalling that the expansion is imminent.
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad are also expected to travel to Delhi to finalise the cabinet list. According to reports, a conclusive decision is likely by Tuesday evening.
The Vacant Posts and Why the Delay
The Karnataka government has been functioning with just 14 ministers, including the Chief Minister, since its formation on 3 June — leaving 20 cabinet positions unfilled. An earlier attempt at expansion was deferred after All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge returned to Bengaluru to attend a family emergency, and the political turbulence surrounding the NEET protests further pushed the timeline.
Deputy CM Posts and the Speaker Question
The Congress high command is also reportedly weighing the creation of two additional Deputy Chief Minister posts alongside incumbent Deputy CM G. Parameshwara. Separately, party insiders say the leadership is considering elevating certain senior figures to the post of Speaker. Health Minister U.T. Khader, who previously held the Speaker's post, is cited as someone who earned bipartisan appreciation — including from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) legislators — for his conduct of Assembly proceedings.
Factional Calculations and Community Balance
Sources indicate that a party Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) who serves as Vice-Chairperson of the AICC's Department of Foreign Affairs has emerged as a frontrunner for a cabinet berth. However, reports suggest Shivakumar is reportedly not in favour of her inclusion, as she is not considered part of his close political circle. Sources also noted that she belongs to the Vokkaliga community, and her induction could complicate the party's internal calculations on women's representation and community balance within the cabinet.
Close associates of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is a Congress Working Committee (CWC) member, are also reportedly hopeful of securing cabinet berths, reflecting the factional dynamics the high command must navigate before finalising the list.
What Comes Next
With senior leaders converging on Delhi and the party high command expected to take a call by Tuesday evening, the Karnataka cabinet expansion — stalled for over a month — could be announced as early as this week. The outcome will be closely watched as a signal of how the Congress central leadership balances competing factional and community interests in one of its most important state governments.
Point of View
And every cabinet berth is a zero-sum negotiation. The high command's reported consideration of two additional Deputy CM posts reads less like governance design and more like a pressure-release valve to satisfy competing blocs. What is missing from the public conversation is accountability: a state government running at less than half its ministerial strength for over a month raises real questions about policy bandwidth and departmental oversight that no amount of Delhi lobbying can paper over.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Karnataka cabinet expansion being delayed?
The Karnataka cabinet expansion has been delayed primarily due to two factors: AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's return to Bengaluru for a family emergency, which disrupted an earlier round of consultations, and political developments surrounding the NEET protests. The government has had 20 of its 34 cabinet posts vacant since its formation on 3 June.
When is the Karnataka cabinet expansion expected to be announced?
According to reports, a final decision is expected by Tuesday evening, 29 July, following meetings between CM D.K. Shivakumar, former CM Siddaramaiah, and the Congress high command in New Delhi.
How many cabinet posts are vacant in Karnataka?
As of late July, the Karnataka government is functioning with only 14 ministers including the Chief Minister, leaving 20 cabinet positions vacant — a situation that has persisted since the government was formed on 3 June.
Will Karnataka get additional Deputy Chief Ministers?
The Congress high command is reportedly considering the creation of two additional Deputy Chief Minister posts alongside incumbent Deputy CM G. Parameshwara, though no official announcement has been made.
Who are the key figures lobbying for cabinet berths in Karnataka?
Close associates of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a Congress Working Committee member, are reportedly hopeful of securing berths. A party MLC who serves as Vice-Chairperson of the AICC's Department of Foreign Affairs has also emerged as a frontrunner, though sources indicate CM Shivakumar is reportedly not in favour of her inclusion.
