Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Vishwanath backs Gayathri for Cabinet, says Sait unfairly excluded
Some leaders in the Indian state of Karnataka were chosen to be ministers in the state government, but a former politician named H. Vishwanath is not happy about it.
He thinks two leaders, Tanveer Sait and Gayathri Shanthegowda, were treated unfairly and should have been picked as ministers.
He says Gayathri should be given the one empty minister job because she is a woman, and that leaving her out was an insult to the Kuruba community.
Vishwanath also wants the chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council, Basavaraj Horatti, to quit his job.
He believes the Congress party now has more members in that council than the BJP party, so Congress should be able to choose its own chairman.
Vishwanath does like some things the new Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, is doing, like taking back empty house plots that people have not built on for five years.
He also asked Kannada organisations to support the government over the Cauvery water dispute and the Karnataka bandh.
He hopes the Chief Minister will keep talking with the leader of Tamil Nadu to find a lasting solution to the water-sharing argument.
Former MLC H. Vishwanath said the Congress high command largely handled the Karnataka Cabinet expansion appropriately but called the exclusion of Tanveer Sait and MLC Gayathri Shanthegowda unfair.
Vishwanath alleged Sait was denied a Cabinet post because his induction could have affected another Mysuru district leader's chances of securing the district in-charge portfolio.
He urged the Congress leadership to fill the lone vacant Cabinet position by inducting Gayathri under the women's quota, terming her omission an insult to the Kuruba community.
Vishwanath called on Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti to resign, saying the BJP no longer enjoyed a majority in the Upper House and the Congress could elect its own Chairman.
He welcomed Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's proposal to resume vacant residential sites and backed dialogue with Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery water dispute.
- Who
- Former MLC H. Vishwanath, speaking about Congress leaders Tanveer Sait and MLC Gayathri Shanthegowda, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti.
- What
- Vishwanath said Sait and Gayathri were unfairly denied Cabinet berths in the Karnataka Cabinet expansion, urged Gayathri's induction into the lone vacant post under the women's quota, and called for Horatti's resignation.
- When
- On Wednesday, after the recent Karnataka Cabinet expansion.
- Where
- Mysuru, Karnataka, India.
- Why
- Because Vishwanath considers the exclusions unjust and believes the Congress now has the numbers in the Legislative Council to elect its own Chairman.
Supporters of Tanveer Sait and Gayathri Shanthegowda
Congress High Command
Cabinet berth omissions
Supporters of Tanveer Sait and Gayathri Shanthegowda
Tanveer Sait and Gayathri Shanthegowda were unfairly denied ministerial berths despite being experienced leaders; Gayathri should be inducted into the lone vacant post under the women's quota.
Congress High Command
The Cabinet expansion was largely handled appropriately; Sait's induction could have affected another leader from Mysuru district getting the district in-charge portfolio.
Legislative Council chairmanship
Supporters of Tanveer Sait and Gayathri Shanthegowda
Basavaraj Horatti should resign as Chairman because the BJP no longer has a majority in the Upper House and the Congress can elect its own Chairman.
Congress High Command
Horatti remains the sitting Chairman, reflecting the BJP side continuing to hold the position despite the Congress demand.
- Event
- Karnataka Cabinet expansion
- Speaker
- Former MLC H. Vishwanath
- Leaders denied berths
- Tanveer Sait and Gayathri Shanthegowda
- Unfilled position
- One lone vacant Cabinet post, sought for Gayathri under the women's quota
- Alleged reason for Sait's exclusion
- His induction could have affected another Mysuru district leader's district in-charge portfolio
- Resignation demand
- Basavaraj Horatti, Chairman of the Legislative Council
- CM proposal welcomed
- Resuming vacant residential sites where houses are not constructed within five years
- Related issues
- Cauvery water dispute with Tamil Nadu and the Karnataka bandh