Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Karnataka CM Shivakumar Holds Delhi Talks on Portfolio Allocation
Mr. D K Shivakumar is the Chief Minister of Karnataka, a state in India.
The Chief Minister is the leader of the state's government, a bit like the captain of a team.
He traveled to New Delhi, the capital of India, on Sunday night to talk with the top leaders of his political party, called the Congress.
Not long ago, he added 19 new ministers to his team, but those ministers have not yet been given their jobs.
Some people who wanted to be ministers were not chosen, and they are upset about it.
Party leaders have been talking to these unhappy people to calm them down.
They might even move a few ministers to different jobs so some unhappy people can join the team.
Right now, there are no women on the team, and many people want the Chief Minister to pick a woman for the one empty spot.
He is trying to sort everything out before the state's big meeting, called the monsoon session, starts on August 13.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar arrived in New Delhi late Sunday evening amid speculation he will discuss portfolio allocation for the 19 newly inducted ministers with the Congress high command.
Shivakumar met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge at his Rajaji Marg residence around 11 pm, after which he said the high command would decide what needs to be done regarding portfolios.
The cabinet, expanded on August 3 to a total strength of 33 ministers, has one berth vacant and no women represented in it.
Unconfirmed reports suggest the leadership is weighing a reshuffle replacing two or three ministers to make room for senior legislators left out of the expansion.
The Congress may also swap portfolios among existing ministers and consider additional Deputy Chief Minister positions, while the Social Welfare department is contested by ministers Shivaraj Tangadagi and K.H. Muniyappa.
- Who
- Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge; other Congress leaders involved include KPCC president B K Hariprasad and AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala.
- What
- Discussions on allocating portfolios to the 19 newly inducted cabinet ministers, a possible cabinet reshuffle, and pacifying legislators left out of the expansion.
- When
- Sunday night, August 9; the cabinet expansion took place on August 3, and the monsoon session begins August 13.
- Where
- New Delhi (Karnataka Bhavan and Kharge's Rajaji Marg residence) and Karnataka state.
- Why
- To distribute portfolios, manage discontent among senior legislators who were denied ministerial berths, and address pressure over the lack of women in the cabinet ahead of the legislature session.
Congress High Command & CM's View
Disgruntled Legislators' View
Timing of portfolio allocation
Congress High Command & CM's View
Shivakumar indicated there was no immediate necessity to complete the portfolio exercise before the Assembly session and said he could handle questions relating to departments if required.
Disgruntled Legislators' View
Party sources said the Chief Minister wants to complete the exercises ahead of the monsoon session beginning August 13 to prevent dissatisfaction from escalating.
Cabinet reshuffle
Congress High Command & CM's View
Leadership is reportedly considering replacing two or three ministers to create space for senior legislators who expressed disappointment over being left out of the expansion.
Disgruntled Legislators' View
Disgruntled lawmakers continue to demand ministerial berths, while there is no official confirmation of any reshuffle move.
Social Welfare portfolio
Congress High Command & CM's View
Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi is lobbying for the department and met Kharge in Delhi.
Disgruntled Legislators' View
Minister K.H. Muniyappa has also sought discussions with the Congress leadership for the same portfolio.
- Chief Minister
- D K Shivakumar
- AICC president met
- Mallikarjun Kharge
- New ministers inducted
- 19 (on August 3)
- Total cabinet strength
- 33 ministers
- Vacant berths
- 1
- Women in cabinet
- None
- Possible reshuffle
- Two or three ministers (unconfirmed)
- Monsoon session begins
- August 13
