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Siddaramaiah was unhappy over the exclusion of Gayathri Shantegowda from the final cabinet list.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah skipped the D K Shivakumar government’s cabinet swearing-in ceremony in Bengaluru amid Congress dissent over the final ministerial list. (IMAGE: PTI FILE)
The political storm over Karnataka’s cabinet expansion intensified on Monday after former chief minister Siddaramaiah skipped the swearing-in ceremony at Lok Bhavan, where Chief Minister D K Shivakumar inducted the new council of ministers.
His absence from the high-profile event came amid growing dissent within the Congress over the final cabinet list. According to sources, Siddaramaiah was unhappy with the removal of Gayathri Shante Gowda’s name from the list of ministers. Gowda, a prominent Kuruba leader, was reportedly dropped at the last minute.
On the dais were Governor Gehlot, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, while newly inducted ministers, including Ajay Singh, took the oath of office.
Siddaramaiah’s decision to stay away comes as the Congress grapples with discontent over the cabinet expansion, with resignations, closed-door meetings and public expressions of disappointment by leaders who missed out on ministerial berths.
Sources said Siddaramaiah was unhappy over the exclusion of Gayathri Shantegowda from the final cabinet list. An MLC from the Kuruba community, Shantegowda had been expected to be the only woman inducted into the ministry before her name was removed in the final round of changes.
Her exclusion came only days after the Karnataka High Court ruled in her favour in a four-and-a-half-year legal battle, declaring her the successful candidate in the Legislative Council election against BJP’s M K Pranesh. The last-minute omission has added another flashpoint to the Congress’s cabinet expansion, which has already triggered dissent from several party leaders.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar sought to play down the unrest, saying it was “not possible to accommodate everyone” in the expanded ministry. Recalling his own experience, he said he too had once missed out on a cabinet berth under then chief minister Siddaramaiah before eventually becoming a minister. “Similarly, we will ensure that everyone gets an opportunity in the future,” he said, urging disappointed legislators to remain patient.
About the Author
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a chief sub editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has …Read More
August 03, 2026, 17:14 IST
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