Shivakumar meets Venugopal for talks on Karnataka Cabinet reshuffle, portfolio allocation

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday, August 10, held further discussions with AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal on a minor Cabinet reshuffle and the allocation of portfolios to the newly inducted ministers, days after a late-night meeting with party president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Shivakumar had held discussions with Kharge for more than two hours on Sunday night, and followed it up with talks with Venugopal on Monday morning before leaving for Bengaluru.

According to sources, the chief minister discussed the induction of a woman member into the Cabinet, along with the allocation of portfolios to the newly inducted ministers. A minor reshuffle in Cabinet allocations is also on the cards to accommodate disgruntled legislators, sources said, with one or two newly inducted ministers likely to be dropped.

"We have to induct one woman; we will do that. There is no urgency," Shivakumar told reporters after meeting Kharge, adding that portfolio allocation would be completed soon.

The chief minister said he had apprised Kharge of developments following the resignation of BJP legislator Basavaraj Horatti, the long-serving Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council.

Karnataka had seen a major Cabinet expansion early this month, with 19 ministers inducted, taking the Council of Ministers' strength to 33, including the chief minister. One berth in the Cabinet remains vacant.

In the meantime, the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said there are no confusions regarding allocation of portfolios to ministers who were newly inducted into Cabinet, and the process will be completed soon.

“There is no confusion, the process has to be completed after discussing with the high command. The CM has gone to Delhi. He is coming back today. I believe that he may announce once he is back,” Parameshwara told reporters in response to a question.

Asked if portfolios are allocated to ministers now, won’t it be difficult for them to prepare and answer questions during the upcoming legislature session, he said there won’t be any problem as they are all capable and there will be seniors to help them.

“Those who have become ministers may face some initial trouble. But there will be officials to brief them. Over time, they will learn things. We too faced it when we were new ministers. Once you learn administration, things will be fine. As they are legislators, things won’t be new for them,” he added.

Shivakumar, who is in Delhi since last evening, had met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and party general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, and held discussions.

He is said to have discussed with the Congress high command regarding the allocation of portfolios to 19 new ministers, who were inducted into the Cabinet on August 3, according to party sources.

Discussions are also likely to have taken place about disgruntlement within the party by legislators who were ministerial aspirants, especially by senior leaders, who were left out during the Cabinet expansion.

Meanwhile, there is intense speculation that Shivakumar is likely to have held discussions regarding a minor reshuffle of his Cabinet by replacing a couple of incumbents in order to make room for miffed lawmakers who are not dialling down their demand for ministerial berths, according to sources.

However, there was no official confirmation on the same.

With no women’s representation in his Cabinet, pressure is mounting on the CM to fill up one vacant berth with a woman minister.

Over the last few days, Shivakumar, KPCC president B K Hariprasad, AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, and a few ministers have reached out to various legislators, who did not make it to the Ministry, as part of an effort to pacify them.

The CM wants to complete all these processes ahead of the monsoon session of the state legislature from August 13, party sources added.

Two months after assuming charge as the chief minister, Shivakumar expanded his Cabinet on August 3, by inducting 19 ministers, bringing the total strength to 33. One berth remains vacant.