Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has taken a strict stance against brewing internal party dissent following a full cabinet expansion in Bengaluru, stating that he will not be pressured by threats of political resignation.
The expansion saw 20 new MLAs taking their oaths as ministers—filling the cabinet to its maximum capacity two months after Shivakumar took charge as Chief Minister. However, the decision left several senior leaders and long-standing MLAs dissatisfied over being excluded.
Key Highlights from the Cabinet Expansion
1. Chief Minister’s Firm Message
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On Resignations: Shivakumar made it clear that he will not compromise on discipline, stating: “If someone resigns, I will accept it within a few minutes.”
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Call for Patience: Drawing from his own political history, Shivakumar urged disappointed leaders to stay loyal to the party:
“Look, those who are resigning are all doing politics… I could have resigned during Dharam Singh’s time, or at different times, or during Siddaramaiah’s time when all my ministers were sidelining me. Was I not patient?”
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Urgent Governance Focus: The CM directed all newly sworn-in ministers to forgo celebrations and immediately begin visiting drought-affected districts across the state starting Tuesday.
2. Board and Corporation Restructuring
To manage internal expectations, Shivakumar announced a sweeping revamp of state Boards and Corporations:
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All current heads and members have been asked to step down.
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Grassroots party workers will be prioritized for initial appointments, followed by one-on-one meetings with aggrieved MLAs to address their concerns.
Emerging Points of Friction
Despite peacemaking efforts by assigned emissaries, several factions within the state Congress unit expressed dissatisfaction:
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Mass Resignations in Vijayanagar: Block, ward, and wing office-bearers from the Vijayanagar constituency submitted a collective resignation to Karnataka Congress chief BK Hariprasad after senior MLA M. Krishnappa was excluded from the cabinet.
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Protest over KSRTC Chairmanship: Congress MLA SR Srinivas announced his decision to step down as Chairman of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) after missing out on a ministerial berth.
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Concerns Over Women’s Representation: Congress MLA Nayana Motamma raised issue with cabinet diversity, noting that none of the five female Congress MLAs were given a ministerial portfolio.
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Suppressed Discontent in Districts: Leaders like KN Rajanna and his son MLC Rajendra expressed disappointment over the lack of representation for Tumkur district, though they noted they would abide by high-command decisions.
De-escalation Efforts
While some factions continue to protest, outreach by the CM succeeded in calming select leaders:
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Belur Gopalkrishna’s Pivot: After threatening to resign on Monday, Congress MLA Belur Gopalkrishna retracted his decision following a late-night meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence, confirming he would remain with the party and support its growth.
