Karnataka Chief Minister-designate D. K. Shivakumar and outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are set to travel to New Delhi on Monday to hold discussions with the Congress high command on the formation of the new state cabinet.
According to party sources, both leaders will arrive in the national capital on Monday afternoon, with their return schedules left open as crucial deliberations on ministerial appointments get underway.
Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, is scheduled to be sworn in as Chief Minister on June 3 along with members of his Council of Ministers. He was elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Karnataka on Saturday.
With Karnataka permitted a maximum of 34 ministers, including the Chief Minister, the Congress leadership faces the challenge of accommodating a large number of aspirants within the limited cabinet positions available. Party sources said balancing regional representation, caste equations and factional interests will be a key consideration during the discussions.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Shivakumar declined to comment on the number of ministers who would take oath alongside him, saying the final decision would be made by the party leadership.
Meanwhile, lobbying for cabinet berths has intensified, with several former ministers and legislators travelling to Delhi to present their claims before the Congress high command. While some members of Siddaramaiah’s dissolved cabinet are seeking reappointment, several legislators are hoping to secure a ministerial position for the first time.
Sources indicated that the new cabinet is likely to include a mix of experienced and fresh faces. Speculation is also growing over the possibility of appointing multiple Deputy Chief Ministers, although no final decision has been taken.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has said that no formal proposal on the composition of the ministry has yet been placed before the party leadership.
Discussions are also expected to cover the appointment of a new KPCC president, a post currently held by Shivakumar. Senior Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi is considered a frontrunner for the role.
In addition, the leaders are likely to deliberate on candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha and Karnataka Legislative Council elections scheduled for June 18. The ruling Congress is expected to secure three of the four Rajya Sabha seats and five of the seven Legislative Council seats that are due for election.
