Shivakumar govt could finally get a woman minister as Nagendra’s exit gives Congress room for maneuver

Delays in govt expansion has given Oppn in Karnataka an opportunity to corner Shivakumar govt and Congress over absence of any women leaders in either cabinet or key roles within state unit.

File photo of Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar speaking at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru | X@DKShivakumar

Bengaluru: Karnataka minister B. Nagendra’s resignation has presented the D.K. Shivakumar-led Congress government with at least two options to address growing dissent within party ranks over exclusion of women and senior leaders in the 34-member cabinet.

One of the contenders in the race for inclusion is E. Annapoorna Tukaram, the first-time legislator from Sandur. The other option is to induct either M. Krishnappa or Basavaraj Shivannanavar—two senior Congress leaders who were overlooked in the earlier expansion.

“Her (Annapoorna’s) induction in place of Nagendra is likely since she fulfils all three categories: woman, Scheduled Tribe and region,” a senior Congress leader told ThePrint, requesting anonymity. 

The Shivakumar government has come under sharp criticism for being unable to gain consensus to induct a woman member into the cabinet so far, denting the party’s platform that relies heavily on the support of women. If Annapoorna’s induction goes through, it would blunt the aspersions of injustice to oppressed communities.

Annapoorna, from Kalyana Karnataka region, is the wife of Bellary MP E. Tukaram. She won the seat vacated by her husband in November 2024, defeating BJP ST Morcha president Bangaru Hanumanthu.

While Annapoorna’s prospects have gone up on account of Nagendra’s resignation, sources indicate that the final decision rests with the Congress high command.

However, the delays have given the Opposition in the state an opportunity to corner the Shivakumar government and the Congress party over the absence of any women leaders in either the cabinet or key roles within the state unit of the party.

‘Will abide by party high command’ 

Women’s groups and even the Congress party’s own Mahila Morcha had called out the delays, which they said were denting its image among women supporters.

Shivakumar replaced Siddaramaiah as chief minister on 3 June. Thirteen others were inducted into his council of ministers at the time. He then had to wait two whole months to fill the remaining berths. During that time, most legislators were camping in Delhi, lobbying with the central leadership to be considered for the cabinet. 

The cabinet expansion earlier this month did not end simmering dissent but fuelled it, as several seniors said they were overlooked by the party high command, even indicating a possible exit from the party. 

The growing dissent added to Shivakumar’s challenges and kept him more engaged in fighting frequent fires within the ranks than focusing on governance. 

In an earlier interview with ThePrint, state Congress president B.K. Hariprasad attributed the delays to “pulls and pressures”. Hectic lobbying has been underway for some time now, with senior leaders pushing for their choice of candidates while resisting the options presented by others, people aware of the developments say.

Earlier this month, Naveddu Nilladiddare, a women-focused group, said in its open letter to the chief minister that the cabinet had “entrenched the exclusion of women,” and that an all-male cabinet is “not an oversight; it is a political choice”. 

Other contenders

Former minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Kaneez Fathima from Kalaburagi, and Nayana Motamma from Chikmagaluru are also potential choices for the party. 

Although M. Roopkala was also earlier in the race, it is unlikely that she will be considered since her father K.H. Muniyappa is already in the cabinet, it is learnt.

All four women legislators in the running are second-generation politicians, as ThePrint reported earlier. 

The party is also considering inducting another senior Congress leader into the last remaining berth of the state cabinet.

Senior leaders said Siddaramaiah is not pushing for a woman candidate anymore since he wants the party high command to induct Basavaraj Neelappa Shivannanavar.

“We do not have a woman candidate, we want Shivannanavar to be in the cabinet,” said one Congress leader seen as part of Siddaramaiah’s camp. Shivannanavar and Siddaramaiah are from the Kuruba community, which has significant influence in central and north Karnataka. “It is true that I am an aspirant to the cabinet and that Siddaramaiah spoke in my favour. However, whatever decision the party high command takes, we will abide by it,” Shivannanavar told reporters Friday. 

There are already two ministers from the Kuruba community in Karnataka—Yathindra Siddaramaiah and Byrathi Suresh. This is another reason why leaders representing other communities are possible the possible induction of a third. 

Another option is former housing minister M. Krishnappa. Congress leaders hint that his inclusion is being weighed in light of the imminent Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections, given the political influence he and his son, legislator Priya Krishna, hold in Bengaluru.

(Edited by Nivedita Patil)