Overview
- Mr. D.K. Shivakumar convened all Karnataka Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members in New Delhi on Monday to press the Union government for emergency drought relief and to push pending state project approvals.
- The state leadership has taken cabinet talks to the party high command in Delhi and is reported to be seeking final approval this week for a list that would fill about 20 vacant ministerial berths with a swearing‑in possible midweek.
- Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned after nationwide NEET protests and Shivakumar has publicly backed student concerns while saying the Congress will continue agitation until issues are addressed.
- Shivakumar ordered officials and ministers to prioritise immediate drought measures including securing drinking water, arranging fodder supplies, repairing RO plants and recording borewell and relief works for transparency.
- The expansion is meant to ease intense lobbying inside Congress by balancing regional, caste and gender representation but it could deepen disgruntlement among aspirants and give the BJP–JD(S) fresh targets when the legislature meets on August 13.