Overview
- Preliminary talks were held in New Delhi with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and former CM Siddaramaiah meeting senior Congress leaders on Thursday to present candidate lists and discuss the expansion.
- Party sources say the final list was put off when AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge left for Bengaluru because of a family emergency and that fresh consultations are expected next week.
- The state government currently has 14 ministers against a sanctioned strength of 34, leaving 20 vacancies that the high command may fill partly now and keep some posts in reserve for upcoming Greater Bengaluru and local-body polls.
- Congress managers held one-on-one audiences with dozens of aspirants who camped in Delhi to manage expectations and reduce dissidence while the leadership weighs representation for women, minorities, regions and youth.
- The delay matters for governance and organisation because new ministers need time to take charge before the Assembly session and the party is also planning district-level organisational changes that could shape Karnataka strategy ahead of future elections.