Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Karnataka LoP Ashoka calls CM Shivakumar 'dummy' over portfolio delay
Two big political groups in India are the BJP and the Congress.
In the state of Karnataka, the Congress party is in charge of the government.
The leader of the Congress in Karnataka is D K Shivakumar.
He recently gave important government jobs to many new people.
Some people think those jobs should have been handed out more quickly.
A leader from the BJP group, named R Ashoka, is upset about the delay.
He thinks Mr. Shivakumar might be waiting for permission from leaders far away in Delhi.
He even joked that Mr. Shivakumar is not the real boss.
Mr. Ashoka also said other leaders from Delhi are visiting unhappy politicians.
It is all part of the big game of politics between the two groups.
BJP leader and Karnataka LoP R Ashoka called Chief Minister D K Shivakumar a 'dummy CM' over the alleged delay in allocating portfolios to newly inducted ministers.
Shivakumar expanded his cabinet on Monday by inducting 19 ministers, bringing its total strength to 33, with one berth left vacant.
Ashoka asked whether Shivakumar was waiting for high command approval for 'payment quota' ministers or if the agreed payment had not yet been credited.
He accused AICC General Secretary Randeep Surjewala of visiting dissatisfied MLAs to patch up the 'weakening' Congress government.
Ashoka said people are beginning to ask whether Karnataka has a real government or is run by the Delhi high command through 'remote control.'
- Who
- Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka (BJP) criticized Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over the delay in portfolio allocation.
- What
- Ashoka called Shivakumar a 'dummy CM' and questioned whether he was awaiting high command approval or unpaid 'payment quota' funds before assigning portfolios to the 19 new ministers.
- When
- Thursday, three days after the new ministers took oath on Monday; about two months after Shivakumar became Chief Minister.
- Where
- Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
- Why
- Ashoka alleged the delay showed the Karnataka government was being run by the Congress high command in Delhi through 'remote control.'
- Chief Minister
- D K Shivakumar
- Leader of Opposition
- R Ashoka (BJP)
- New ministers inducted
- 19
- Cabinet strength
- 33 (one berth vacant)
- Time since CM took charge
- Two months
- Days since oath-taking
- Three days
- State
- Karnataka
- Main allegation
- Delay in portfolio allocation; 'payment quota' ministers