Bengaluru, August 5, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Congress leadership on Wednesday stepped up efforts to contain growing discontent within its Karnataka unit following the recent Cabinet expansion, with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and AICC Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala personally reaching out to legislators who were denied ministerial berths.
As resentment surfaced among several senior leaders, the party leadership held a series of meetings with dissatisfied MLAs in an attempt to prevent the situation from escalating.
Senior Congress MLA M. Krishnappa, who was overlooked for a Cabinet position, was among those expressing disappointment. Surjewala travelled from New Delhi to Bengaluru and met Krishnappa at his residence in Vijayanagar. Shivakumar also visited the residence of Krishnappa and his son, MLA Priya Krishna, to discuss their concerns and urge them to remain aligned with the party leadership.
Both M. Krishnappa and Priya Krishna had reportedly expected that at least one member of the family would be accommodated in the Cabinet. Congress leaders are expected to continue similar outreach to other legislators unhappy with the expansion.
In another significant development, Indi MLA Yashavantharayagouda Patil withdrew his resignation from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly after sustained intervention by senior Congress leaders.
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Patil had resigned after being denied a ministerial berth and had initially maintained that he would not reconsider his decision. However, following a telephonic conversation with Shivakumar and meetings with senior leaders, including Ministers Laxman Savadi and Vinay Kulkarni, he agreed to withdraw his resignation.
According to party sources, Patil was assured that priority would be given to the development of his constituency. He subsequently sent a letter to the Assembly Speaker requesting that his resignation not be accepted, allowing him to continue as an MLA.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad launched a sharp attack on the BJP over its criticism of the Cabinet expansion.
Referring to the political developments that led to the fall of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in 2019, Hariprasad questioned the BJP over “Operation Lotus” and accused it of engaging in “suitcase politics” and “briefcase politics.”
He also took a swipe at Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, alleging that the BJP had no moral authority to question the Congress on political ethics.
Hariprasad further accused the BJP of lacking commitment to social justice, claiming that its leaders consistently indulged in negative politics and failed to understand the concept of inclusive governance.
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