Bengaluru: With cabinet expansion behind him, chief minister DK Shivakumar now faces an equally delicate political exercise — allocating portfolios to his new ministers. While the induction of 19 new ministers has addressed demands for cabinet representation, the distribution of departments is expected to test his ability to balance competing political interests within Congress.Several of the newly inducted ministers are naturally keen on departments that carry greater administrative authority and public visibility. However, with many of the most influential portfolios already held by those inducted in the first round, Shivakumar has limited room for manoeuvre.Sources say the allocation exercise is being guided by multiple factors, including seniority, administrative experience, caste and community representation, regional balance and electoral considerations.The exercise has become more complex as some senior ministers are also believed to be seeking changes in their existing responsibilities or additional portfolios, adding another layer of negotiations. This, while first-time ministers are looking for assignments that would help them establish their administrative credentials and political profile.Party functionaries say the govt is likely to retain continuity in key departments that require experienced hands while assigning development-oriented portfolios to newer ministers, allowing them to build governance experience without immediately handling the govt’s most sensitive sectors.Political analyst Vishwas Shetty said portfolio allocation often has greater political significance than cabinet expansion itself. “Cabinet expansion decides who enters the ministry. Portfolio allocation decides who wields administrative and political influence,” he said. “That is where competing expectations surface. The CM must strike a balance between political accommodation and effective governance.”Regional considerations are also expected to play an important role, with ministers keen to secure departments that can directly influence development in their constituencies.The expansion exercise has already left several legislators disappointed after they were denied ministerial berths. Portfolio allocation could trigger fresh discontent.Beyond political management, Shivakumar must also ensure key departments are entrusted to ministers capable of steering the govt’s legislative agenda, implementing flagship programmes and defending govt policies in and outside the assembly.
