Final Round of Talks on Karnataka Cabinet Expansion as Swearing In Ceremony Likely Tomorrow

The Congress leadership is set to hold a crucial round of discussions in New Delhi to finalize the long awaited expansion of the Karnataka cabinet. Senior party leaders are expected to take the final call on ministerial appointments after a series of consultations involving both the state and central leadership.

According to party sources, the decisive meeting is scheduled to take place in the presence of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The meeting is expected to settle the remaining issues before the final list of ministers is approved.

Preparations are already underway for a possible swearing in ceremony on Thursday, indicating that the party is moving toward completing the exercise without further delay. While no official announcement has been made, leaders are optimistic that the cabinet expansion process will be concluded soon after the final meeting.

Ahead of the high level discussions, Karnataka leaders met at the residence of Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal in Delhi. The meeting was attended by Karnataka in charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and KPCC President B K Hariprasad.

During the discussions, leaders reportedly examined the lists of prospective ministers submitted by D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. The names were reviewed based on district representation, caste balance, and political considerations, with several candidates reportedly making it to the final stage of selection.

One of the major issues under discussion is the reported proposal to create two additional Deputy Chief Minister posts. Sources indicate that D K Shivakumar has supported the idea as part of the cabinet restructuring process.

However, Siddaramaiah is said to have expressed reservations about creating more Deputy Chief Minister positions. Reports suggest he believes that assigning important ministerial portfolios would be a better approach than increasing the number of Deputy Chief Ministers, arguing that additional posts may not be necessary.

The differing views are expected to be discussed before Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, who are likely to play a key role in arriving at a consensus. The leadership is expected to ensure that the final structure reflects both administrative needs and political balance within the party.

The meeting is scheduled to begin after 4.30 pm at Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence in Delhi. If the remaining issues are resolved, the final list of ministers could be cleared shortly afterward, paving the way for the swearing in ceremony planned for Thursday evening.

The cabinet expansion is being closely watched as it is expected to address regional representation, internal party expectations, and governance priorities. The outcome of the discussions will determine the composition of the Karnataka government for the next phase of its tenure.