Karnataka Cabinet Expansion: Last-Minute Changes, Caste Equations in Focus
The Karnataka Cabinet expansion witnessed last-minute changes on Monday, as the initial list of 20 legislators underwent revisions before the swearing-in ceremony at Lok Bhavan. This led to confusion among legislators who did not find their names in the final list.
The first list released in the morning contained the names of 20 legislators. By afternoon, the party finalised another list, dropping Mankal Vaidya and adding S.S. Mallikarjun. Both had served as ministers in Siddaramaiah's Cabinet. Party sources said Mallikarjun, representing the Davangere North constituency, used his influence and also issued veiled threats to resign along with other family members. His wife, Prabha Mallikarjun, is the MP from Davangere, and his son, Samarth Mallikarjun, was recently elected in the bypolls from Davangere South.
As speculation over another list emerged, with several legislators airing their disappointment in public, a government communique intimated the rescheduling of the swearing-in from 4.05 p.m. to 5 p.m.
A.V. Gayatri Shanthegouda, whose name was considered as the female face in the morning list, did not take oath in the evening. Shanthegouda's petition against the election of M.K. Pranaesh had led to his disqualification from the Chikkamagalur Local Authorities constituency, which he won against her in the Legislative Council in 2022. Though she was scheduled to take oath as an MLC at 12.30 p.m. on Monday, it did not take place since the Council's Secretariat did not receive the election certification from the Chikkamagalur Deputy Commissioner. Eventually, 19 legislators took oath, though 20 names had been released.
Party sources said that opposition to her induction into the Cabinet came from Siddaramaiah on the grounds of caste and regional combination. With her induction, it was felt that there would be three Kurubas — Yathindra Siddaramaiah and Byrathi Suresh besides her — all from the South Karnataka region. He had favoured Basavaraj Shivannanavar from Byadagi. The vacancy is likely to be filled soon with a representation for women, sources said.
Sources also said that a couple of legislators who were inducted in the evening had their names included only on Monday morning, as hectic lobbying continued till late on Sunday. Though Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah carried their lists to the central leadership, it looks like the party had its own plan. Legislators who missed out would be accommodated in boards and corporations that will be rejigged. The party wanted new faces, and the Cabinet now has nine first-time ministers.
Denying any confusion in the list, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said that the list he gave to the Governor was final. "What the high command sent me and what I gave to the Governor is final. All others are not final. There is no confusion in the list. Mankal Vaidya is still with me," he said.
Despite disappointment among some legislators, the Congress has justified the Cabinet formation on representation of castes. Of the total 33 Cabinet ministers, seven each are Lingayats, Scheduled Castes, and Other Backward Classes. Five are Vokkaligas in addition to the Chief Minister, three are Scheduled Tribes, and three are Muslims. The posts of Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman have gone to Backward Classes, the post of Chairman to a Muslim, and the Speaker's post to a Reddi Lingayat. "Overall, 23 out of 38 positions, or about 60%, are held by leaders from SC, ST, OBC, and minority communities. The government does not just speak about social justice, but embodies it in the distribution of power," sources said.
However, a senior party leader said: "In the history of Cabinet formation in Karnataka, the Brahmin community had never been ignored. It is for the first time that the Cabinet has no representation for Brahmins."
