Ministerial aspirants disappointed as Karnataka Cabinet expansion postponed again in the light of NEET protests

Members of various associations staged a protest in the name of Sonam Bembalisi Karnataka at Freedom Park against the NEET paper leak and demanding the resignation of the Education Minister in Bengaluru on July 22, 2026. | Photo Credit: Sudhakara Jain The much-awaited expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet has been postponed for the second time in less than two weeks, leaving many aspirants disappointed. The latest delay came as the party’s Central leadership remained preoccupied with protests in and outside Parliament over the NEET paper leak.Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president B.K. Hariprasad flew to New Delhi on Tuesday in the hope of holding consultations with the Congress high command. However, they returned to Bengaluru on Wednesday without any discussion on the issue, as the party leadership did not find time for the meeting.Mr. Shivakumar joined Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and other party MPs in a protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the paper leak. The demonstration followed a confrontation between Youth Congress workers and the police during a march to Parliament on Monday.Several Congress MLAs and MLCs, who had also camped in New Delhi anticipating a decision on the expansion, returned disappointed as the high command remained focused on the agitation and was in no mood to discuss filling the 20 vacancies in the State Cabinet.Party sources said the Karnataka leadership is now expected to travel to New Delhi only after receiving a formal call from the high command with a confirmed date and time for discussions. The developments also indicate the limited role of the State leadership in determining the timing of the expansion.According to party sources, the Congress high command is now likely to invite the Karnataka leaders to New Delhi early next week to deliberate not only on the Cabinet expansion but also on the appointment of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly ahead of the Monsoon Session beginning on August 6.Governance challengesWith only 14 Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in a Cabinet that can constitutionally have up to 34 members, the government is increasingly finding it difficult to manage governance challenges. These include preparations to tackle a possible drought following poor monsoon, the politically sensitive Bidadi Township Project, and issues arising from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.The first round of discussions, scheduled in New Delhi last week, was cancelled after Mr. Kharge had to return to Bengaluru because of a family emergency. Published - July 22, 2026 06:48 pm IST