Karnataka Cabinet female representation
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has said that a woman minister will soon be inducted into his Cabinet, putting an end to the ongoing controversy over the lack of female representation in the state government.
Speaking at the India Today Karnataka Roundtable, Shivakumar said the government is committed to ensuring women’s representation and indicated that the appointment could take place within the next two to three days.
The statement comes after the Karnataka government’s recent Cabinet expansion drew criticism because all 19 newly inducted ministers were men. Following the expansion, the strength of the Shivakumar-led Council of Ministers rose to 33, but there was still no woman minister.
Shivakumar Says Woman Minister Will Be Inducted Soon
Addressing the criticism, Shivakumar said a name had already been cleared for the position but that an issue prevented the appointment from taking place earlier.
He said the government would have a woman minister in the next few days, although he did not reveal the name of the person who is likely to be inducted.
The Chief Minister also reiterated the Congress party’s commitment to women’s political representation. He pointed to the party’s historical position on women’s reservation and said the Congress remains committed to the principle of greater participation of women in politics.
Why Did the Karnataka Cabinet Face Criticism?
The controversy intensified after the August 3 Cabinet expansion, when 19 ministers were inducted but no woman was included.
The issue attracted criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as women’s groups and sections within the political establishment. The criticism was particularly significant because the Congress has frequently highlighted women’s empowerment and welfare initiatives in Karnataka.
Earlier, the Congress high command’s proposed list reportedly included Gayathri Shanthegowda, a first-time MLC, as the sole woman candidate. However, her name was ultimately absent from the final list of ministers who took oath.
Congress Faces Questions Over Women’s Representation
The absence of a woman minister has created a political challenge for the Congress government, especially given its emphasis on women-centric welfare schemes in Karnataka.
The issue has also provided the BJP with an opportunity to question the Congress government’s record on women’s political representation.
Women’s civil society groups in Karnataka had also raised concerns about the all-male Cabinet and urged the Chief Minister to address the lack of female representation.
Karnataka Cabinet Strength Reaches 33
Shivakumar became Karnataka Chief Minister on June 3 and initially took oath along with 13 ministers. The subsequent expansion added 19 more ministers, taking the Council of Ministers to 33 members.
Despite the expansion, one Cabinet berth remained vacant, while no woman had been included in the ministry as of the latest portfolio allocation.
Shivakumar’s latest statement suggests that the vacant position could now be used to bring a woman into the Cabinet.
Shivakumar Says Governance Is His Priority
During the interaction, Shivakumar also spoke about the responsibilities that come with his new role as Chief Minister.
He said his focus is now on providing good governance, strengthening the Congress organisation and setting an example through Karnataka’s development.
The Chief Minister described himself as a person in a hurry and said his priority was to deliver results for the people of the state.
The immediate focus will now be on who will become the next woman minister in Karnataka and when the appointment will officially take place.
Shivakumar’s announcement is also likely to ease some of the political pressure surrounding the all-male Cabinet. However, the eventual appointment and the portfolio given to the new minister will be closely watched by both the opposition and women’s groups.
For now, the Karnataka government has indicated that the gender representation issue could see a change within days.
