Karnataka Cabinet expansion: Two Congress MLAs resign over denial of ministerial berths

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Aug 3, 2026: Hours before the much-awaited expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet, discontent surfaced within the Congress as two party legislators announced their decision to resign after being denied ministerial berths.

Senior Congress MLA Yashwanthrayagouda Patil from Indi and Sagar MLA Belur Gopalakrishna expressed their disappointment on Monday, accusing the party leadership of sidelining them.

Patil alleged that the Congress had failed to honour its promise of inducting him into the Cabinet, while Gopalakrishna criticised the party’s leadership, saying, "Only children of former Chief Ministers get prominence in the Congress."

Despite the internal dissent, the expansion of Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s Cabinet is scheduled to take place on Monday evening after the Congress high command approved the final list of 20 ministers, sources said.

The induction will fill all 20 vacant berths in the 34-member State Cabinet. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Glass House, Lok Bhavan, at 5 pm.

As part of the reshuffle, Ron MLA G S Patil is set to become the new Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly following the induction of former Speaker U T Khader into the Cabinet. Virajpet MLA A S Ponnanna is expected to take over as Deputy Speaker.

In the Legislative Council, senior Congress leader Saleem Ahmed is likely to be appointed as the new Chairperson, while actor-turned-MLC Umashree is expected to become the Deputy Chairperson.