A day after the Congress high command formally announced DK Shivakumar as the leader of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP), the race for cabinet berths in the new Karnataka government has intensified, with lobbying shifting from Bengaluru to New Delhi.
Shivakumar is expected to meet party leadership in the national capital on Monday to finalise the list of ministers who will be sworn in along with him on June 3 . At the same time, several senior legislators and ministerial aspirants have already arrived in Delhi to push their case before the party high command .
Yathindra Siddaramaiah in contention
Amid intense discussions over cabinet formation, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has emerged as a strong contender for a ministerial berth in the new government . Yathindra, currently a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council (MLC), accompanied his father during meetings with Congress leadership in Delhi earlier this week .
According to multiple media reports, Siddaramaiah has sought a significant role for his son in the new dispensation, including the possibility of a deputy chief minister’s post . The move is seen as an attempt by the veteran leader to ensure his political legacy continues even after stepping down from the top post.
While Siddaramaiah has reportedly declined a Rajya Sabha seat offered by the party high command, he remains keen on staying active in state politics .
Priyank Kharge frontrunner for Deputy CM
Another prominent name doing the rounds is Priyank Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. According to sources, Priyank is among the frontrunners for the Deputy Chief Minister’s position under the Dalit representation quota .
The race for the Deputy CM’s post has heated up, with senior leader G. Parameshwara also in the running . However, party sources indicate that Priyank Kharge’s youth appeal and organisational connect make him a strong candidate for a top role in the new cabinet .
Reports suggest the Congress high command is considering appointing multiple Deputy Chief Ministers to balance caste and regional equations. The proposal reportedly includes representation from Dalit, OBC, minority and Lingayat communities .
Lobbying intensifies in Delhi
Several senior Congress legislators have already reached Delhi to meet party leadership. Among those spotted at Kempegowda International Airport were Sharan Prakash Patil, Raghavendra Basavaraj Hitnal and Basanagouda Daddal .
Senior ministers from Siddaramaiah’s outgoing cabinet — including G Parameshwara, M B Patil, K H Muniyappa, K J George, Byrathi Suresh and Priyank Kharge — have also been camping in Delhi for discussions with the high command .
A delegation of Congress leaders from Kolar district met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, pressing for three ministerial berths from the district .
Swearing-in on June 3
Shivakumar formally submitted a letter to Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot informing him about his unanimous election as CLP leader, following Siddaramaiah’s voluntary resignation on May 28 . The Governor dissolved the previous Council of Ministers immediately, while asking Siddaramaiah to continue in office until the new government is sworn in .
The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place on June 3 at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru .
Challenge ahead for Shivakumar
For Shivakumar, the real challenge lies in managing competing ambitions within the party while ensuring a stable administration. The cabinet he chooses will be watched closely as a map of the Congress’s future power structure in Karnataka .
With the Karnataka cabinet having a maximum strength of 34 members, including the Chief Minister, the party leadership faces a tightrope walk between accommodating Siddaramaiah loyalists, balancing caste equations, and bringing in young faces for the future .
