Two Congress MLAs Resign Over Karnataka Cabinet Expansion

Two Congress legislators, Yashavantarayagouda V Patil and Belur Gopalakrishna, resigned from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Monday following their exclusion from a state cabinet expansion. The resignations occurred as Chief Minister DK Shivakumar appointed 20 ministers two months after taking office, a list finalized after consultations with party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

Patil, the MLA for Indi, submitted his resignation to Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani at the Vidhana Soudha, claiming the party leadership failed to keep a promise of a ministerial berth. Belur Gopalakrishna, the MLA for Sagar, alleged that prominence within the party is reserved for the children of former chief ministers. The expansion included last-minute changes by the party high command, such as the addition of S.S. Mallikarjun to bolster Lingayat representation and the removal of Mankal S. Vaidya.

The turmoil triggered protests in Bengaluru, including an incident where a supporter of excluded MLA Tanveer Sait allegedly consumed poison. In response to the unrest, DK Shivakumar urged disappointed legislators to remain patient, stating that not receiving a ministerial post is a common experience for many political leaders. The swearing-in ceremony for the new ministers was scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Lok Bhavan premises.