Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar Hints at Major Boost for Women in State Cabinet

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has hinted at giving women greater and more prominent representation in the Karnataka State Cabinet. Reaffirming the Congress government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, he said that women would be given suitable positions and stronger representation during the next cabinet expansion.

Responding to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju’s criticism that Karnataka’s cabinet lacks women ministers, made after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke about women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha, Shivakumar defended the Congress party’s record.

He stated that the Congress was the original architect of the Women’s Reservation Bill and was the party that drafted and passed the legislation in the Lok Sabha, not the BJP. He also pointed out that the Congress had fielded more women candidates from Karnataka in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

The Chief Minister further said that the long-pending cabinet reshuffle and expansion in Karnataka would be resolved soon. Taking a swipe at Rijiju, Shivakumar remarked that the Union Minister need not concern himself with the Congress party’s internal matters and should instead focus on his own party and the governance of the Central Government.