DK Shivakumar Meets Congress High-Command over Cabinet Reshuffle
Shivakumar had held discussions with Kharge for more than two hours on Sunday night, and followed it up with talks with Venugopal on Monday morning before leaving for Bengaluru
New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday held further discussions with AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal on a minor Cabinet reshuffle and the allocation of portfolios to the newly inducted ministers, days after a late-night meeting with party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Shivakumar had held discussions with Kharge for more than two hours on Sunday night, and followed it up with talks with Venugopal on Monday morning before leaving for Bengaluru.
According to sources, the chief minister discussed the induction of a woman member into the Cabinet, along with the allocation of portfolios to the newly inducted ministers. A minor reshuffle in Cabinet allocations is also on the cards to accommodate disgruntled legislators, sources said, with one or two newly inducted ministers likely to be dropped.
"We have to induct one woman; we will do that. There is no urgency," Shivakumar told reporters after meeting Kharge, adding that portfolio allocation would be completed soon.
The chief minister said he had apprised Kharge of developments following the resignation of BJP legislator Basavaraj Horatti, the long-serving Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council.
Karnataka had seen a major Cabinet expansion early this month, with 19 ministers inducted, taking the Council of Ministers' strength to 33, including the chief minister. One berth in the Cabinet remains vacant.
