Bengaluru, August 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is travelling to New Delhi on Saturday to meet the Congress high command amid growing discontent among senior party leaders over the allocation of Cabinet portfolios.
Shivakumar’s Delhi visit comes days before the Monsoon Session of the Karnataka Legislature, which begins on August 13. Several legislators are lobbying for key departments, prompting the Chief Minister to seek the party leadership’s intervention to resolve differences and finalise the distribution of portfolios.
On Friday night, Shivakumar met former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee member Siddaramaiah at his Bengaluru residence. The two held a closed-door discussion, reportedly focusing on efforts to pacify dissatisfied senior leaders before the Assembly session.
The portfolio allocation has also triggered debate over community representation. The Lingayat community has seven Cabinet berths, while several legislators are seeking what are considered key departments, including Social Welfare, Labour, Higher Education and Excise.
The pressure on Shivakumar increased after seven-time MLA T.B. Jayachandra voiced his displeasure over the developments. After meeting Siddaramaiah, the Chief Minister visited Jayachandra at his residence and sought his guidance.
Shivakumar said Jayachandra, who is the pro tem Speaker, was entitled to be visited by the Chief Minister, while also referring to their longstanding personal association.
Jayachandra later said the issue had been resolved and that he would resume his duties. “As of today, I am the Speaker. All the problems have been resolved and I will go to the office and start my work,” he said.
Meanwhile, senior Dalit leader and former minister H.C. Mahadevappa remains dissatisfied over the portfolio allocation. A close associate of Siddaramaiah, Mahadevappa travelled to Delhi and met Karnataka Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, who reportedly assured him of the party’s support. Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy has reportedly been tasked with addressing Mahadevappa’s concerns.
Shivakumar’s meeting with the Congress high command is expected to be crucial as the party seeks to settle the internal differences and present a united front during the upcoming Monsoon Session.
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