Published Aug 03, 2026 | 7:23 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 03, 2026 | 7:28 PM
Madhu Bangarappa takes oath of office.
Synopsis: Nineteen Congress MLAs were sworn in as ministers in the Karnataka Cabinet on Monday, leaving the ministry one short of its sanctioned strength after MLC Gayathri Shanthegowda skipped the swearing-in ceremony. As former minister Dinesh Gundu Rao became the latest Congress leader to express disappointment over being left out of the Cabinet, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar urged overlooked aspirants to remain patient, saying the party would “create opportunities” for everyone.
Nineteen Congress MLAs were sworn in as ministers in the Karnataka Cabinet on Monday, with Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot administering the oath of office and secrecy at a ceremony at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru.
In a last-minute change, MLC Gayathri Shanthegowda, who had been expected to be the lone woman minister in the expanded Cabinet, was omitted before the swearing-in ceremony, leaving the Council of Ministers one short of its sanctioned strength of 34, including Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
Sources said the decision followed lobbying involving Shanthegowda and former minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar.
The ministers sworn in were B Nagendra, Basavaraj Rayareddi, BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, Dr Ajay Singh, HC Balakrishna, KM Shivalinge Gowda, KS Basavanthappa, Laxman Savadi, Madhu Bangarappa, N Chaluvarayaswamy, PM Narendraswamy, Putturangashetty, Rizwan Arshad, Rudrappa Lamani, Santosh Lad, SS Mallikarjun, Shivaraj Tangadagi, T Raghumoorthy and Vijayanand Kashappanavar.
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ನೂತನ ಸಚಿವರಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಮಾಣವಚನ ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಿರುವ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಹೃತ್ಪೂರ್ವಕ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆಗಳು. ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಸಚಿವರುಗಳು @DKShivakumar ಅವರ ಕೈ ಬಲಪಡಿಸಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಪ್ರಗತಿಗೆ ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರ್ವಹಿಸಲಿದ್ದಾರೆ. pic.twitter.com/RA8KiXsDBE
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) August 3, 2026
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The long-pending Cabinet expansion left out several senior Congress leaders and aspirants, with discontent spilling into the open within hours of the list being announced on Monday morning.
Former minister Dinesh Gundu Rao became the latest Congress leader said he was deeply disappointed, particularly because no reason had been communicated for his exclusion.
“Even after serving the state and the party for so many years, not being given a place in the cabinet this time has caused me deep disappointment. The fact that this decision was taken without informing me of any reason for excluding me from the cabinet has brought even greater dismay. Nevertheless, for the service of the people of my constituency and for the all-round development of Karnataka, I will continue to work ahead with the same commitment, honesty, and integrity,” he said in a post on X.
Several senior Congress legislators, including HK Patil, Shivanand Patil and NS Boseraju, did not find a place in the expanded ministry.
Other aspirants, including six-time MLA and former minister Tanveer Sait and Belur MLA KS Gopalkrishna, also expressed displeasure at being overlooked, while Indi MLA Yashwantraya Gowda Patil tendered his resignation.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar urged disappointed legislators to remain patient, saying the party would create opportunities for everyone.
“Everyone has contributed a great deal. I am not saying that I alone matter. However, the party takes decisions in certain situations. Even in 2004, I did not become a minister immediately. Even in Siddaramaiah’s government, I was not included at the beginning. I remained patient, and it is because of that patience that I am in this position today. I request everyone to remain patient,” he told reporters before the oath-taking ceremony.
“We will create one opportunity or another for everyone. I sincerely request everyone to stay patient.”
