Dissent within the ruling Congress over the Karnataka Cabinet expansion continued for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, with senior MLAs expressing disappointment over being denied ministerial berths and their supporters staging protests outside the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in Bengaluru.

As the protests intensified, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar struck a firm note, saying that the resignations of disgruntled legislators would be accepted “within a few minutes” if they chose to quit.

Supporters of senior MLAs Dinesh Gundu Rao, M. Krishnappa, Priya Krishna, and N.A. Harris gathered outside the KPCC office, demanding an explanation from the Chief Minister and the Congress high command for excluding their leaders. Similar protests were reported from several constituencies, where supporters resorted to road blockades, burnt tyres, and raised slogans against the party leadership.

Several former Ministers and Cabinet aspirants alleged that their loyalty to the Congress and to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had become a reason for their exclusion.

Meets CM

Meanwhile, legislators, including Belur Gopalakrishna, Appaji C.S. Nadagouda, Gayathri Shanthegouda, and Annapoorna Thukaram met Mr. Shivakumar and sought an explanation for being left out of the Cabinet.

MLAs from Kolar and Chickballapur districts, which have not been represented in the new Cabinet, also met in Bengaluru and decided to submit a representation to the Congress high command. Some legislators blamed Minister K.H. Muniyappa for failing to secure Cabinet representation for the two districts.

In an apparent damage-control exercise, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala is learnt to have spoken to several disgruntled legislators and appealed to them to remain calm in the interest of the party.

Adopting a tough stance, Mr. Shivakumar said no one would be stopped from resigning if they wished to do so. “If they want to resign, no one can stop them. If anyone submits a resignation, I will accept it within a few minutes,” he told reporters.

Appealing for patience, the Chief Minister reminded party colleagues that he too had faced disappointment in the past. “I was not made a Minister during the tenures of N. Dharam Singh and Siddaramaiah. Even Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara had to wait. During Veerendra Patil’s tenure, S. Bangarappa, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Dharam Singh were not made Ministers. Later, Bangarappa and Dharam Singh went on to become Chief Ministers. One needs patience,” he said.

Revamp of boards

Mr. Shivakumar also sought to reassure disappointed legislators by announcing that appointments to State-run boards and corporations would be made soon. He said the tenure of existing chairpersons and members had already exceeded the promised two-and-a-half years and that the posts would be filled afresh after seeking the resignation of the current incumbents. “After that, I will speak to each MLA individually,” he said.

s‘Introspect on women’s representation’

Congress MLA Nayana Motamma questioned the Congress party’s decision not to induct any woman legislator into the Cabinet. “The time has come for the party to introspect on women’s representation. Instead of inducting two or three women, not even one has been accommodated,” she said, expressing hope that the lone vacant berth would be reserved for a woman.

Published - August 04, 2026 07:15 pm IST