Bengaluru, July 13 (IANS) The process for expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet is expected to gather momentum after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi returns from his foreign visit, with a series of political meetings in Bengaluru and New Delhi indicating that the party high command is likely to take a final call in the coming days.

More than 40 days after Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar assumed office, the Cabinet remains incomplete with only 13 ministers. Although the Congress leadership has not announced a timeline, party sources indicated that consultations are expected to intensify once Rahul Gandhi returns to India.

AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge is currently in Bengaluru and is expected to return to New Delhi shortly. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is also likely to visit the national Capital this week to hold discussions with the Congress high command.

According to insiders the long-awaited expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet is likely to take place by July 17, with a series of high-level meetings in Bengaluru and New Delhi indicating that the Congress high command is close to taking a final decision.

AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge is expected to return to New Delhi on Tuesday. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is currently on a foreign visit, is also expected to return either on Tuesday (July 14) or later this week. Chief Minister Shivakumar is expected to travel to Delhi this week, where the Cabinet expansion is likely to be finalised after consultations with Rahul Gandhi and Kharge.

On Monday, several Congress MLAs met Shivakumar at his official residence, Krishna, in Bengaluru, where discussions were reportedly held on the impending Cabinet expansion. Sources said both Shivakumar and KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad are awaiting the high command’s final approval before announcing the new ministers.

Lobbying for ministerial berths has intensified over the past few days. Several ministerial aspirants have met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in Delhi to press their claims.

Former minister N.S. Bose Raju and MLA Basanagouda Badarli travelled to Delhi on Monday, while Minister Priyank Kharge is also expected to be in the national Capital. Their visits have further fuelled speculation that the Cabinet expansion is imminent.

Senior Congress leaders, including MLAs Ashok Pattan, Shivalinge Gowda and Raju Gowda, also met Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru on Monday morning. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre is understood to have discussed the Cabinet expansion and other political developments with the AICC President.

Speaking in Kalaburagi on Monday, Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah said the Chief Minister and party leaders would travel to Delhi whenever summoned by Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge.

“Whenever the high command calls us, we will go to Delhi and discuss the matter with the national leadership,” Yathindra said, adding that the Chief Minister is currently holding zonal meetings to review the drought situation across the state.

The Cabinet expansion assumes significance as the Congress government is facing criticism over the delay in filling vacant ministerial posts. The state is also grappling with drought conditions in several districts, flood-related concerns in some regions and questions over the law and order situation.

With the Karnataka Legislature’s Monsoon Session expected to be convened in the first week of August, the Congress leadership is under pressure to complete the Cabinet expansion before the Assembly meets.

Party sources believe Rahul Gandhi’s return to Delhi is likely to pave the way for the long-pending exercise, with Mallikarjun Kharge expected to hold consultations with him before a final decision is announced.

–IANS

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