Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Aug 3: The Karnataka Cabinet expansion plunged into controversy on Monday after a last-minute change reduced the high command-approved list of 20 ministers to 19, with Gayathri Shanthagowda, the lone woman leader in the original list, losing her ministerial berth just before the swearing-in ceremony.

The development came alongside the resignations of two Congress MLAs who protested after being denied Cabinet positions, exposing growing discontent within the ruling party.

The dramatic developments unfolded hours before the oath-taking ceremony at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru, where chief minister D K Shivakumar’s expanded Cabinet was formally inducted.

The Congress high command had earlier finalised a list of 20 ministers. However, only 19 leaders eventually took oath, with Gayathri Shanthagowda being the only person from the approved list who did not become a minister.

According to party sources, the decision to drop Gayathri’s name was taken following sudden political developments in the final hours before the ceremony. The intense competition among women legislators for the lone woman ministerial slot is believed to have played a key role in the last-minute change.

Gayathri’s ministerial chance slips away
Gayathri Shanthagowda’s name had featured in the original list released by the party leadership, but she reportedly did not receive a call from the chief minister’s office asking her to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Sources said concerns were raised within the party over her pending oath as a Legislative Council member, while dissatisfaction among sections of the Congress reportedly added to the pressure. Following the developments, the leadership is believed to have decided against her induction at the final stage.

The woman ministerial position had reportedly become the focus of intense lobbying, with competition involving Lakshmi Hebbalkar and Umashree despite Gayathri’s inclusion in the initial list.

A crucial meeting was held at the residence of former chief imnister Siddaramaiah, where discussions were reportedly held over the Cabinet composition. Sources said the Congress high command eventually accepted pressure from State leaders to remove Gayathri’s name from the final list.

Meanwhile, Congress MP E Tukaram’s wife Annapurna was also reported to have visited Siddaramaiah’s residence and sought support for consideration for the ministerial post.

Gayathri Shanthagowda reportedly expressed her disappointment before Siddaramaiah, stating that she had faced injustice despite not committing any mistake. She is said to have pointed out that she had already suffered a four-year setback regarding her Legislative Council position and that the ministerial opportunity had also slipped away.

She reportedly made an emotional appeal seeking one opportunity to serve in the Cabinet.

Two Congress MLAs resign over Cabinet exclusion

Adding to the embarrassment for the Congress leadership, two MLAs resigned from the Legislative Assembly after being overlooked for ministerial berths.

Indi MLA Yashavantharayagouda V Patil and Sagar MLA Belur Gopalakrishna announced their resignations just hours before the swearing-in ceremony, escalating pressure on the party leadership.

Yashavantharayagouda V Patil submitted his resignation to Karnataka Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.

Soon after his resignation, Patil’s supporters staged a protest in the city, alleging that the senior Congress leader had been unfairly denied a Cabinet berth despite his credentials and contributions. They accused the party leadership of overlooking his role and treating him unfairly.

In a parallel development, Belur Gopalakrishna also tendered his resignation from the Assembly, further intensifying the political turmoil surrounding the Cabinet expansion.

Expansion exposes internal Congress tensions

The Cabinet expansion, undertaken around two months after D K Shivakumar assumed office as chief minister, was intended to balance regional representation, caste equations and factional interests within the Congress.

However, the selection process has triggered resentment among several aspirants who failed to secure ministerial positions. The exclusion of leaders, the last-minute change involving Gayathri Shanthagowda and the resignations of two MLAs have highlighted widening internal divisions within the ruling party.

The developments are expected to increase pressure on the Congress high command as it attempts to contain dissent and manage competing regional, caste and political equations in the formation of the Cabinet.

With disappointed leaders weighing their options and fresh signs of unrest emerging from within the party, the Congress leadership now faces the challenge of restoring unity while keeping its Karnataka government stable.