DK Shivakumar Says “Lot Of Vacancies” As Karnataka Cabinet Row Over No Women Grows

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has responded to criticism over the absence of women in his newly formed Cabinet, stating that there are still several vacancies in the Council of Ministers and that opportunities will be provided in the next phases of expansion. Shivakumar was sworn in as Chief Minister on Wednesday along with 13 ministers, marking the first phase of Cabinet formation in the Congress-led government.

The total sanctioned strength of the Karnataka Council of Ministers is 34, including the Chief Minister, leaving scope for further inductions. Addressing reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday, Shivakumar dismissed opposition criticism, particularly from the BJP, over the lack of women representation in the initial list of ministers. He said that the government would make additional appointments in due course and that it was premature to draw conclusions from the first round of inductions.

“Let them wait; there are a lot of vacancies,” Shivakumar said, adding that the current Cabinet formation was only the beginning of a larger process. He also pointed out that a similar situation had occurred in earlier Cabinet formations, where women were not included in the first phase. The issue has drawn criticism from opposition leaders as well as voices within the Congress party.

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Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka questioned the government’s commitment to gender representation, while senior Congress leader Margaret Alva expressed disappointment over the complete absence of women ministers in the new Cabinet. In her reaction, Alva said she would have preferred to see at least one woman legislator included, noting that the lack of representation was disheartening despite the party’s broader focus on women-centric welfare schemes.

Her comments added to the political debate surrounding the Cabinet composition. The newly sworn-in Cabinet largely consists of members from the previous Siddaramaiah government, with 11 of the 13 ministers retaining their positions. The inclusion of Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and U T Khader as new entrants has also drawn attention, while senior Dalit leader G Parameshwara has been appointed Deputy Chief Minister.

Lakshmi Hebbalkar, who was the only woman minister in the previous government, was not included in the first phase of the new Cabinet, further intensifying scrutiny over gender representation. The Congress leadership has maintained that the Cabinet expansion will continue in phases, with additional appointments expected in the coming weeks.

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