D.K. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah traveled to New Delhi on June 3, 2026 [1], to discuss the formation of the Karnataka state cabinet.
These meetings are critical to establishing the leadership structure of the state government before Shivakumar, the newly elected Congress Legislature Party leader and chief minister-designate, is officially sworn into office.
The discussions involve high-level coordination between the state leadership and the Congress high command. Mallikarjun Kharge, the All India Congress Committee president, is overseeing the process to ensure a balanced distribution of portfolios among the party members.
Kharge said that the process would not be completed in a single session. "The cabinet formation will be done in phases," Kharge said [1].
Shivakumar and the outgoing chief minister, Siddaramaiah, are working with party officials to finalize the list of ministers. The phased approach allows the party to manage internal dynamics and regional representation within the state's executive branch.
The meetings in New Delhi serve as the final step in the transition of power between the outgoing administration and the incoming leadership. The specific names and roles of the cabinet members will be announced as the phases of the formation process progress.
“"The cabinet formation will be done in phases,"”
The decision to form the cabinet in phases suggests a cautious approach by the Congress high command to balance competing factions and interests within the Karnataka unit. By centralizing these talks in New Delhi, the party leadership aims to maintain direct control over the appointment process to ensure stability before the official swearing-in of D.K. Shivakumar.
