
The Karnataka Cabinet expansion is likely to move ahead with a swearing-in ceremony on Monday, after a meeting of senior Congress leaders in New Delhi on Thursday. The final list of ministers is expected to be announced by Sunday.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah submitted separate lists of aspirants. Rahul Gandhi is expected to review these names with the party’s internal recommendations before approval. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, K.C. Venugopal, B.K. Hariprasad and Randeep Singh Surjewala attended the meeting.
Several aspirants, including Shivalingegowda, Puttarangashetty, Vijayanand Kashappanavar, Nayana Motamma and Shivaraj Tangadagi, returned to Bengaluru. Some expressed confidence about joining the Cabinet. Kashappanavar said the final list should reflect regional and community representation. The list is now expected to determine the political balance within the Karnataka government.
A Cabinet expansion requires more than party approval. The Chief Minister recommends the names, and the Governor administers the oath after the appointments are cleared. Once inducted, ministers are assigned portfolios, which can alter the distribution of authority across departments. The Constitution also limits the size of a state ministry to 15% of the legislative Assembly’s strength, subject to a minimum of 12 ministers. The key signal to watch is the Governor’s invitation and the portfolio allocation after the proposed Monday ceremony.
Source: thehansindia.com
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