Karnataka Expands Cabinet with 19 New Ministers Sworn In

Cabinet Expansion in Karnataka

On Monday, Karnataka witnessed a significant cabinet expansion as 19 ministers took their oaths of office. The Congress leadership is striving to maintain a balance between the loyalists of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and the seasoned leader Siddaramaiah. Governor Thawarchand Gehlot administered the oaths at the Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru. This expansion comes nearly two months after Shivakumar assumed the role of Chief Minister.

Following Siddaramaiah's resignation on May 28, Shivakumar was sworn in as Chief Minister on June 3, along with 13 ministers. The cabinet expansion is deemed crucial for the Congress party in Karnataka, as it seeks to navigate the delicate balance between the factions led by Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, especially since Siddaramaiah recently announced that he would not contest in the upcoming 2028 Karnataka Assembly elections.

The complete list of the 19 ministers who took their oaths during Monday's cabinet expansion is as follows:

- Dr. Ajay Singh (Jevargi)

- H.C. Balakrishna (Magadi)

- K.S. Basavanthappa (Mayakonda)

- Basavaraj Rayareddy (Yelaburga)

- N. Chaluvarayaswamy (Nagamangala)

- Lakshman Savadi (Athani)

- Madhu Bangarappa (Soraba)

- S.S. Mallikarjun (Davanagere North)

- B. Nagendra (Ballari Rural)

- Narendra Swamy (Malavalli)

- C. Putturangashetty (Chamarajanagar)

- Rudrappa Lamani (Haveri)

- Rizwan Arshad (Shivajinagar)

- T. Raghumoorthy (Challakere)

- Santosh Lad (Kalghatgi)

- K.M. Shivalinge Gowda (Arasikere)

- Shivraj Tangadagi (Kanakagiri)

- Vijayanand Kashappanwar (Bagalkote)

- B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan (Chamarajpet)