Karnataka Cabinet expansion sparks dissent among senior Congress MLAs
Several Congress MLAs have accused the Congress leadership of favouring turncoats over party loyalists
The Karnataka Cabinet expansion, enacted on Monday, has sparked unrest within the ruling Congress party. Several senior lawmakers have been denied ministerial positions, with at least two threatening to resign from the Legislative Assembly. The initial catalyst was the resignation of Yashwanthrayagouda Patil, a three-time MLA from Indi, who cited exclusion from the Cabinet.
Sagar Belur Gopalakrishna, MLA for Sagar, also announced his resignation, intensifying the discontent. Allegations of favoritism towards legislators who switched parties over loyalists have surfaced, with some MLAs planning to consult supporters before deciding their next steps. Protests erupted outside the Legislators’ Home in Bengaluru, with supporters burning tires and raising slogans against the party leadership.
The Cabinet's composition has also been criticized for lacking regional and community representation, particularly in Kolar and Chickballapur districts. The incident has drawn attention to the underlying differences between Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and the party's higher command. While the rebellion does not immediately threaten the government's stability, it could weaken party cohesion, divert attention from governance, and offer the BJP and JD(S) new political opportunities.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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