Bengaluru, August 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Nineteen legislators were inducted as Cabinet Ministers in the Congress government led by Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday, marking the much-awaited expansion of the state Cabinet.
The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan, where Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers in the presence of Chief Minister Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara and other dignitaries.
The ceremony began with the rendition of Vande Mataram, followed by the National Anthem and the State Anthem. Former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee member Siddaramaiah was absent from the event.
Congress MLC Gayathri Shanthegowda’s name was included in the list of ministers announced by the party, but she did not take oath. According to Congress sources, her ministerial berth has been kept vacant following opposition and dissent within the party over the Cabinet reshuffle.
The newly inducted ministers include:
- Ajay Singh, three-time MLA from Jewargi in Kalaburagi district and son of former Chief Minister late N. Dharam Singh.
- H.C. Balakrishna, five-time MLA from Magadi in Ramanagara district and a close associate of Chief Minister Shivakumar.
- K.S. Basavanthappa, first-time MLA from the reserved Mayakonda constituency in Davangere district.
- Basavaraja Rayareddi, six-time MLA from Yelburga in Koppal district and former MP who had served as Economic Adviser to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
- N. Cheluvarayaswamy, four-time MLA from Nagamangala in Mandya district and former minister.
- Laxman Sangappa Savadi, four-time MLA from Athani in Belagavi district and former Deputy Chief Minister who joined Congress after leaving the BJP ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections.
- Madhu Bangarappa, two-time MLA from Sagar in Shivamogga district and son of former Chief Minister late S. Bangarappa.
- S.S. Mallikarjun, four-time MLA from Davanagere North.
- B. Nagendra, four-time MLA from Ballari Rural.
- P.M. Narendraswamy, three-time MLA from Malavalli in Mandya district.
- C. Puttarangasetty, four-time MLA from Chamarajanagar.
- T. Raghu Moorthy, three-term MLA from Challakere in Chitradurga district.
- Rizwan Arshad, two-term MLA from Shivajinagar in Bengaluru.
- Rudrappa Lamani, two-term MLA from Haveri and former Deputy Speaker during the Siddaramaiah government.
- Santhosh Lad, four-time MLA from Kalaghatgi in Dharwad district and former minister.
- K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, four-time MLA from Arasikere in Hassan district.
- Shivaraj Tangadgi, three-term MLA from Kanakagiri in Koppal district and former minister.
- Vijayananda Kashappanavar, two-term MLA from Hungund in Bagalkot district.
- B.Z. Zameer Ahmad Khan, five-time MLA from Chamarajpet in Bengaluru and former minister.
The Cabinet expansion follows a prolonged wait within the Congress government, with the induction of 19 ministers aimed at strengthening the state administration. The allocation of portfolios is expected to be announced soon.
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