Bengaluru, August 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Congress leadership’s efforts to pacify disgruntled leaders after the Karnataka Cabinet expansion suffered a fresh setback on Thursday after a purported video showing two senior party leaders questioning the selection process surfaced on social media.
The video features former Ministers H.K. Patil and Dinesh Gundu Rao during a meeting at Patil’s residence, where they are seen discussing the Cabinet expansion and the criteria followed for choosing ministers.
In the purported conversation, one of the leaders is heard questioning the basis of the selections.
“On what criterion were the selections made? I don’t know the standards that were applied. This is the first time I am witnessing something like this. New standards have been adopted, and I am unable to understand the criteria,” the leader is heard saying, while H.K. Patil is seen smiling during the exchange.
The development comes at a time when Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, AICC Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala and KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad are making efforts to address concerns among leaders who failed to find a place in the expanded Cabinet.
Speaking to reporters after meeting H.K. Patil, former Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao attempted to downplay the controversy, saying the Cabinet expansion issue was now settled.
“We have served as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee presidents and ministers. As legislators, our priority will continue to be the development of our respective constituencies,” he said.
Gundu Rao said he met Patil as he was a senior party leader and added that detailed discussions could not take place earlier as Hariprasad and several other Congress leaders had also visited Patil’s residence.
He described the leadership’s outreach to unhappy leaders as a positive step and said there was nothing wrong with communities seeking representation in the Cabinet.
“Many communities have not been represented in the new Cabinet. Such a situation has not arisen earlier,” he said.
Gundu Rao also said he had shared his views on the Cabinet expansion with Hariprasad.
Meanwhile, dissatisfaction reportedly continues among legislators associated with the AHINDA bloc over the selection process. Sources said senior Congress leader and former Minister H.C. Mahadevappa left for New Delhi on Thursday and is likely to meet the party’s central leadership.
The move comes amid reports that several leaders are unhappy with the names recommended during discussions involving former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and party state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala.
According to party sources, some legislators believe Siddaramaiah recommended only a limited number of names and that several of his close associates and loyalists were excluded from the final list, resulting in resentment within the faction.
Mahadevappa, considered a close associate of Siddaramaiah, has previously differed with Chief Minister Shivakumar on various issues and had supported the demand for additional Deputy Chief Minister posts during Siddaramaiah’s tenure.
Party insiders said some dissatisfied legislators feel that their claims were not strongly advocated before the Congress high command during the Cabinet expansion process.
With protests, resignations and public expressions of dissatisfaction emerging from different parts of Karnataka, the Congress leadership faces a challenge in maintaining unity within the ruling party despite continued efforts by senior leaders to contain the discontent.
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