Karnataka Congress Faces Internal Turmoil Following Cabinet Expansion

The Karnataka Congress party is facing internal conflict following a cabinet expansion that saw 20 ministers sworn in. The expansion has triggered discontent among several Congress MLAs who were excluded from the ministry, including Yashvantharayagouda V Patil and Belur Gopalakrishna, both of whom offered to resign. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar responded by stating he would accept any resignations without delay, while recalling his own past experiences of being denied ministerial berths during the tenures of former Chief Ministers Siddaramaiah and N. Dharam Singh to urge patience among legislators.

The situation escalated with the release of a five minute audio recording by BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy. The clip purportedly features Congress leaders R.B. Thimmapur and S.G. Nanjayyanamatha alleging that the party high command ignored honest leaders in favor of other factors. The recording specifically mentions that H.K. Patil was denied a berth despite his competence, while questioning the inclusion of Minister B. Nagendra and Vijayanand Kashappanavar. Both Thimmapur and Nanjayyanamatha have dismissed the recording as doctored or fabricated.

Minister Vijayanand Kashappanavar has called the allegations a conspiracy and stated that the party high command will decide on actions regarding indiscipline. Meanwhile, the BJP has used the controversy to attack the ruling party, with leaders alleging that cabinet berths were auctioned or filled via payment quotas. Center left reporting emphasizes the internal row and the specific allegations of corruption and dishonesty within the selection process. In contrast, center right reporting focuses more on the Chief Minister's personal narrative of patience and the logistical completion of the cabinet's full strength.