Karnataka Cabinet Expansion Postponed Again Amid NEET Paper Leak Protests

The much-anticipated expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet has been deferred for the second time in less than two weeks, leaving several ministerial aspirants disappointed. The latest delay occurred as the Congress party's central leadership remained occupied with protests over the NEET paper leak, both inside and outside Parliament.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president B.K. Hariprasad travelled to New Delhi on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) expecting to hold consultations with the party high command on the Cabinet expansion. However, they returned to Bengaluru on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) without any discussions on the matter, as the leadership did not find time for a meeting.

Mr. Shivakumar joined Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and other party MPs in a protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the paper leak. The demonstration followed a confrontation between Youth Congress workers and police during a march to Parliament on Monday (July 22, 2026).

Several Congress MLAs and MLCs, who had also camped in New Delhi hoping for a decision on the Cabinet expansion, returned disappointed. The high command remained focused on the Parliamentary agitation and was not inclined to discuss filling the 20 vacancies in the state ministry.

Party sources said that the Karnataka leadership is now expected to travel to New Delhi only after receiving a formal call from the high command with a confirmed date and time for discussions. The developments also indicate the limited role of the state leadership in determining the timing of the expansion.

According to party sources, the Congress high command is likely to invite the Karnataka leaders to New Delhi early next week to deliberate not only on the Cabinet expansion but also on the appointment of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly ahead of the monsoon session beginning on August 6.

Governance challenges

With only 14 ministers, including the Chief Minister, in a Cabinet that can constitutionally have up to 34 members, the government is increasingly finding it difficult to manage governance challenges. These include preparations to tackle a possible drought following deficient monsoon rainfall, the politically sensitive Bidadi township project, and issues arising from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.

This is the second time in less than a fortnight that the exercise has been deferred. The first round of discussions, scheduled in New Delhi last week, was cancelled after Mr Kharge had to return to Bengaluru because of a family emergency.