Karnataka Cabinet expansion: DK Shivakumar to induct 20 ministers; swearing-in today
Congress high command clears 20 names for the Cabinet as MLA Yashavantarayagouda V Patil resigns and supporters protest over his exclusion
Two months after assuming charge as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar, will expand his Cabinet on Monday (August 3) by appointing 20 ministers.
The swearing-in of the new ministers will take place at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru by 5 pm, the Chief Minister's office said. It was earlier scheduled at 4:05 pm.
The names approved by the Congress high command are: P M Narendraswamy (Malavalli), Shivaraj Tangadagi (Kanakagiri), Rudrappa Lamani (Haveri), K S Basavanthappa (Mayakonda), B Nagendra (Ballari rural), T Raghumoourthy (Challakere), B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan (Chamarajpet), Rizwan Arshad (Shivajinagar), Santosh Lad (Kalaghatagi), Madhu Bangarappa (Soraba).
Putturangashetty (Chamarajanagara), S S Mallikarjun (Davangere North), Ajay Singh (Jevargi), N Chaluvaraya Swamy (Nagamangala), K M Shivalinge Gowda (Arasikere), H C Balakrishna (Magadi), Gayathri Shanthegowda (Chikkamagaluru MLC), Basvaraj Rayareddi (Yelaburga), Vijayanand Kashappanavar (Bagalakote), and Laxman Savadi (Athani) are also on the list.
AICC general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal has sent a communication to Shivakumar about the Congress high command approving 20 names to be inducted into the Cabinet.
The swearing-in of the new ministers will take place at Lok Bhavan by 5 pm.
Meanwhile, unhappy over being excluded from the Karnataka cabinet expansion, Congress MLA from Indi Yashavantarayagouda V Patil resigned from his legislative post on Monday, official sources said.
Patil submitted his resignation letter to Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assembly Rudrappa Lamani at the Vidhana Soudha, they said.
Following the announcement, his supporters staged a protest in Bengaluru, shouting slogans and alleging injustice.
(With agency inputs)