Karnataka Cabinet Expansion Sparks Congress Resentment, Legislators Threaten Resignations

Bengaluru, Aug 2026 : The Karnataka Congress’ last-minute changes to the list of ministers for the Cabinet expansion triggered strong resentment within the party on Monday, with several disappointed legislators threatening to resign from the Assembly, supporters staging protests and one party worker allegedly consuming poison in protest.

The controversy erupted shortly before the scheduled swearing-in ceremony after the Congress high command reportedly removed Mankal S. Vaidya from the final list and instead decided to induct former minister S.S. Mallikarjun. Mallikarjun, a prominent Lingayat leader from Central Karnataka, is believed to have been included as part of the party’s efforts to improve regional and community representation in the expanded Cabinet.

The last-minute decision, however, angered several legislators who had been hoping for ministerial berths.

Indi MLA Yashavanth Rayagouda Patil announced that he had prepared his resignation letter and intended to submit it to the Assembly Speaker after being excluded from the final list. Patil claimed that he had been assured until the last moment that he would be inducted and had even been asked to remain prepared for the oath-taking ceremony.

“There is a big conspiracy. My exclusion shows that this is not the time for honest and loyal party workers,” Patil told reporters.

He alleged that the final list was changed during a meeting on Monday morning. According to Patil, senior leaders, including Randeep Singh Surjewala, Siddaramaiah and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, subsequently informed legislators from his district that ministers M.B. Patil and Shivanand Patil had been accommodated, while he would have to wait for a future opportunity.

Patil expressed particular disappointment over the fact that his constituency, according to him, had not received Cabinet representation since Independence.

He said he had been active in politics for four decades and had contested eight elections, while working to strengthen the Congress in his constituency for nearly two decades.

“I cannot remain with those who betrayed me. There is no meaning in continuing under the present leadership,” he said.

Patil said he had sought an appointment with the Speaker to submit his resignation and indicated that he would leave the Vidhana Soudha as a former MLA. His supporters subsequently held protests against the party’s decision.

More Legislators Express Anger

Former minister and Sagar MLA Belur Gopalakrishna also announced plans to resign from the Assembly. He accused the party leadership of overlooking loyal grassroots workers while allegedly giving preference to political families.

“I will not resign alone. We are a group and we will submit our resignations tomorrow at 10 a.m.,” Gopalakrishna said.

He questioned why the children of former Chief Ministers and senior ministers continued to receive opportunities while ordinary party workers were allegedly being denied ministerial positions.

Gopalakrishna also said he had never engaged in anti-party activities and questioned whether the Congress leadership was unwilling to allow grassroots leaders to rise within the organisation. He announced that he would also resign from his position in a state corporation.

Other senior Congress legislators, including Hampanagouda Badarli, Ashok Pattan and Raghavendra Hitnal, also publicly expressed disappointment over their exclusion from the expanded ministry.

Supporter Allegedly Consumes Poison

The internal discontent took a more serious turn after a supporter of senior Congress leader and six-time MLA Tanveer Sait allegedly consumed poison in protest against Sait’s exclusion from the Cabinet.

The supporter was rushed to a hospital, where he was undergoing treatment. The incident further highlighted the anger among supporters of legislators who had expected ministerial berths.

The developments came as the Congress government prepared to formally expand the Karnataka Cabinet after months of speculation and political uncertainty.

According to the latest communication from the Chief Minister’s Office, the swearing-in ceremony for the newly inducted ministers was scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Lok Bhavan premises, after the timing was revised from the earlier schedule of 4.05 p.m.

The Congress high command has approved the induction of 20 legislators into the Karnataka Cabinet, bringing an end to prolonged uncertainty over the expansion.

However, the last-minute changes have exposed internal dissatisfaction within the ruling party, with questions over regional representation, community balance, loyalty and opportunities for grassroots leaders emerging as key issues.

The resignations threatened by some legislators could now add to the political pressure on the Congress leadership as it seeks to manage competing expectations within the Karnataka unit and maintain unity following the Cabinet reshuffle.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)