Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday held further discussions with AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal on a possible minor Cabinet reshuffle and allocation of portfolios to newly inducted ministers.
The talks followed a more than two-hour late-night meeting Shivakumar had with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday.
Shivakumar met Venugopal on Monday morning before leaving for Bengaluru.
Woman minister and portfolios discussed
Sources said the Chief Minister discussed the induction of a woman member into the Cabinet and the distribution of portfolios among the newly inducted ministers.
A minor reshuffle is also being considered to accommodate legislators who are reportedly unhappy with the current arrangements. There is a possibility that one or two recently inducted ministers could be dropped as part of the exercise.
“We have to induct one woman; we will do that. There is no urgency,” Shivakumar told reporters after meeting Kharge, adding that portfolio allocation would be completed soon.
Cabinet strength reaches 33
Shivakumar also briefed Kharge on developments following the resignation of BJP legislator Basavaraj Horatti, the long-serving Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council.
Earlier this month, Karnataka witnessed a major Cabinet expansion in which 19 ministers were inducted, taking the strength of the Council of Ministers to 33, including the Chief Minister.
One Cabinet berth remains vacant.
The latest discussions are expected to pave the way for portfolio allocation and any minor changes in the ministerial team in the coming days.